Book XXXIII.27. Men from Hither Spain and Further Spain bring gifts and visit Rome {Quarte Decadis Liber Quartus p. CXCIX} 1493

Editor: Here we have an anonymous artwork titled "Book XXXIII.27. Men from Hither Spain and Further Spain bring gifts and visit Rome." It looks like a woodcut or engraving, with a very stark black and white contrast. How do you interpret the composition? Curator: I'm interested in the formal arrangement of linear elements creating depth. Observe the parallel lines defining the robes and the landscape; they flatten the image, yet there's a clear attempt to structure space through overlapping forms. Note, also, the stark contrast of the figure in the foreground, and how this contributes to the overall structure. Editor: It's interesting how the lines create both flatness and depth. I hadn't considered that. Curator: The tension between the two is where the power of the image resides. Formally, the artist has used minimal means to create a structured visual space. Editor: Thanks, I'll certainly look closer at how line work operates within the visual field from now on.