Zelfmoord van Lucretia 1624 - 1636

This engraving, "Suicide of Lucretia," was created by Claude Mellan in the 17th century and resides in the Rijksmuseum. The composition immediately draws us to Lucretia, centrally placed, caught in a moment of dramatic intensity. The stark contrast of light and shadow heightens the emotional impact. Mellan masterfully uses a single, continuous line to define form. Consider how Mellan defies traditional engraving techniques. His use of the single line to create tonal variations challenges the conventional understanding of light and form. The density and proximity of the lines create darker areas, while sparsely distributed lines suggest lighter tones. Lucretia’s figure seems to emerge from the very lines that define her, blurring the boundaries between subject and medium. This merging reflects a broader artistic concern of the era – destabilizing fixed meanings and exploring new ways of perceiving reality through art. The engraving reminds us that art is not just about representation but about the active construction of meaning through form and technique.