Plate 34: Auriga, the charioteer, falls from the chariot at center, with three horses at left 1756

This print, made by Bartolomeo Crivellari in the 1700s, presents a dramatic scene in monochrome. The composition is dominated by dynamic forms: horses rearing, clouds swirling, and a figure plummeting downwards, all rendered with meticulous detail. The image is structured around a visual tension between the solid forms of the horses and chariot, and the implied movement of the falling figure. The light source, emanating from the top, casts dramatic shadows, accentuating the depth and chaos of the scene. Crivellari uses line and tone to create a sense of depth, with darker areas contrasting against the stark white of the paper to create a visual hierarchy. This careful arrangement, however, serves not just an aesthetic purpose, but also engages with contemporary philosophical concerns about perspective and perception, challenging fixed meanings through its destabilizing composition. This piece invites us to reflect on how visual structures convey meaning and power.