Scylla op de vlucht voor Glaucus c. 1636 - 1670

This engraving, ‘Scylla fleeing Glaucus’ was created by Crispijn van de Passe the Younger. It shows the nymph Scylla as she escapes the sea god Glaucus. The composition is strikingly divided: to the left, Glaucus and other sea figures frolic in a dynamic seascape with ships on the horizon, rendered in delicate lines. The right side contrasts sharply, where the static figure of Scylla is depicted in the darker, more densely etched grotto. This juxtaposition serves not just to tell a story but to highlight a tension between movement and stasis, desire and flight. Look at how the artist uses hatching and cross-hatching techniques to create contrasting tones. This use of light and shadow enhances the drama, pulling the viewer's eye between the pursuer and the pursued. The structured arrangement of figures and landscape, divided into distinct, yet interconnected spaces, suggests a deeper commentary on the dynamics of power, fear, and transformation. This print invites a continuous, active interpretation.