View of Frascati and surroundings 1566 - 1638

Matthäus Greuter created this print, "View of Frascati and surroundings," sometime before his death in 1638. The composition presents a bird's-eye perspective, meticulously detailing the Italian town and its landscape. The dense network of fine lines captures the architectural structures and the natural environment with equal precision. The artist's use of line is not merely descriptive; it constructs a world of contrasting textures and forms. The orderly arrangements of buildings are set against the sprawling, organic shapes of the surrounding hills. This contrast establishes a visual tension, prompting us to consider the relationship between human order and natural chaos. Greuter uses semiotic language to represent an idealized version of urban planning and landscape design. Consider the function of mapping during this period and the desire to codify and control space through visual representation. As you observe this detailed rendering, consider how Greuter's formal choices reflect a desire to categorize the world and perhaps even impose a certain order upon it.