Rennende 'peich' of 'peicler' (lakkei) met bijl en flacon 1555 - 1568

Léon Davent created this print, "Rennende 'peich' of 'peicler'," sometime between 1540 and 1556. Its lines and composition capture a figure in mid-stride, seemingly fleeing across the scene. The print’s stark lines and textures define the figure and his peculiar attire. The subject's hat, adorned with a plume, towers above, a formal exaggeration that speaks to the theatricality of representation. His costume, rendered with careful etching, suggests both detail and depth, emphasizing a deliberate construction of identity. The running pose introduces dynamism, destabilizing any static interpretation. Davent’s print uses semiotic codes embedded within the historical context of costume and representation. The figure’s exaggerated features and attire might symbolize specific cultural or social critiques. The act of running could be read as a broader commentary on movement, change, and the instability of meaning. The print becomes an open text, inviting interpretation and engaging with larger philosophical questions about identity, representation, and cultural symbolism.