Salmacis en Hermaphroditus c. 1590 - 1728

Hendrick Goltzius created this engraving, Salmacis en Hermaphroditus, at the end of the 16th century. The eye is immediately drawn to the contrast between the smoothness of the human forms and the rough textures of the natural landscape, evoking a powerful tension between the ideal and the real. The engraving illustrates a narrative of transformation and merging of identities. Goltzius’s use of line and shadow challenges conventional notions of form, using the fluidity of the medium to mirror the fluidity of gender identity. He plays with perspective, compressing space to intensify the figures' interaction, drawing us into their intimate encounter. The artwork goes beyond simple representation, and becomes an exploration of metamorphosis. Through the technical mastery and conceptual depth, Goltzius invites viewers to contemplate the instability of identity and the power of transformation.