De vijf zintuigen 1620

"De vijf zintuigen" (The Five Senses), a 1620 engraving by Crispijn van de Passe (II), depicts a group of figures engaged in various activities representing the senses. The print is a visual allegory, a popular genre of the time, where abstract concepts are given concrete form. The composition is rich in detail, with figures in the foreground and background interacting with each other and symbolic objects, such as a dog sniffing flowers (smell), a man playing music (hearing), and a woman reading (sight). This work, now housed at the Rijksmuseum, exemplifies Van de Passe's skill in creating intricate and dynamic compositions.