Plate 19: Cacasenno riding a horse backwards, from "Bertoldo, Bertoldino, and Cacasenno" 1705 - 1715

Giuseppe Maria Crespi created this print, "Plate 19: Cacasenno riding a horse backwards, from "Bertoldo, Bertoldino, and Cacasenno" using etching. Notice how the composition centres on the figure of Cacasenno, humorously riding a horse backwards. The stark contrast of light and shadow, achieved through delicate, precise lines, gives form to the characters and landscape. Crespi’s technique highlights a world turned upside down, mirrored in Cacasenno’s backward orientation. This disruption of the expected invites us to question established orders. The artist uses the semiotic language of costume, pose, and setting to subvert traditional representations of power and decorum. The detailed etching emphasizes the materiality of the print itself. The reversal of direction isn't merely a visual joke; it's a statement about challenging fixed perspectives. The piece becomes a site where conventional meanings are destabilized, prompting viewers to reconsider their own assumptions.