Onderboezem, schacht gedecoreerd met Minerva before 1643

This is ‘Onderboezem, schacht gedecoreerd met Minerva’, an undated engraving by Abraham Bosse, housed here at the Rijksmuseum. The visual field is dominated by structured ornamentation: rectangular panels and classical figures give a powerful impression of symmetry. The artwork exhibits a clear binary composition. Above, Minerva is depicted with a child. Below this panel is an empty fireplace, visually 'heated' by the detailed ornamental carvings that frame both structures. These details, like the cherubs or decorative garlands, serve as signs that enrich the artwork's narrative and symbolic depth. Note the calculated organization of this piece that invites us to interpret its underlying meaning. The use of classical figures and motifs could reference themes of knowledge, power, and domesticity. The artwork's aesthetic value lies not only in its surface but also in its ability to evoke thought and discussion. Like any significant work of art, this piece is not a fixed entity but rather an invitation to continuous interpretation.