Figure with Pig and Serpent, from "Ex Antiquis Cameorum et Gemmae Delineata/ Liber Secundus/et ab Enea Vico Parmen Incis" 1599 - 1622

This print, Figure with Pig and Serpent, of unknown date, is from a series of engravings. Note how the composition divides into two distinct zones: the upper area of densely etched parallel lines that form an abstract backdrop, contrasting with the figural arrangement below. A nude figure sits, draped in cloth, beside a pig-like creature, with a serpent coiled around the figure. The visual elements of the human form are juxtaposed with animal forms, which destabilizes traditional artistic categories. The lines create a visual tension, suggesting a space that is both defined and undefined, highlighting a play between representation and abstraction. These lines deny the viewer the perspectival depth expected in figurative art. The print challenges any fixed interpretation, inviting ongoing re-evaluation of cultural codes.