Midden onder zitten rug aan rug een mannelijke en een vrouwelijke sater 1535 - 1598

This print, “Midden onder zitten rug aan rug een mannelijke en een vrouwelijke sater”, of roughly translated, “In the middle, a male and female satyr sit back to back”, was made by an anonymous artist. The composition presents an overwhelming symmetry, from the entwined satyrs to the ornamental elements. A complex array of motifs, including masks, garlands, and mythical creatures, are meticulously arranged around the central figures. The satyrs themselves, half-human and half-serpentine, support baskets overflowing with fruit, symbolizing abundance and fertility. The artist, working within the established visual language of the time, uses symmetry and symbolism to create a harmonious yet dense visual experience. The print challenges any singular interpretation; instead, it invites viewers to decode its multiple layers of meaning. The image destabilizes established categories, blending human and animal, masculine and feminine, in a playful yet purposeful manner. Ultimately, the print functions as a site of ongoing interpretation.