Copy of Le Duel a L'Épée (The Duel with Swords), from "Les Caprices" 1620 - 1700

This tiny, anonymous print captures a moment of intense action. The composition is dominated by two dueling figures, their swords meeting at the center, creating a focal point. The stark contrast of black lines on a white ground lends the image an immediacy. The artist employs hatching and cross-hatching to define form and texture, giving volume to the figures’ clothing and depth to the landscape. The diagonal lines of the swords and the figures' stances create a dynamic sense of movement, countered by the grounded presence of discarded garments. In semiotic terms, the sword fight can be interpreted as a signifier of honor, conflict, and social rituals. The discarded clothing hints at a stripping away of social norms, reducing the men to their basic selves in a contest of skill and perhaps pride. This copy, though small, encapsulates the essence of "Les Caprices"— a reflection on human follies through sharp, graphic representation.