Kandelaber, met onderaan twee gevleugelde fabelwezens op een voetstuk c. 1525 - 1594

This is an engraving of a candelabra by Hans Sibmacher, made sometime before 1611. The composition is markedly symmetrical, with a vertical organization presenting tiers populated by various figures, both human and mythical. The graphic quality of the engraving, achieved through precise lines, is striking, despite its small scale. The design uses classical motifs, yet distorts them into something quite eccentric. Human figures, rendered in detail, are juxtaposed with hybrid creatures—part animal, part human—creating a fantastical bestiary. The candelabra's structure is also a play on form, as it blends architectural elements with organic shapes. Sibmacher appears to destabilize clear categories, mixing classical refinement with grotesque elements, challenging our expectations. This fusion of styles disrupts any singular interpretation, inviting the viewer to negotiate a field of different possibilities. The artist utilizes form not merely as decoration but as a means to challenge and complicate established artistic norms.