Pendant Shaped like a Beetle with a Couple and a Young Man Playing an Instrument 1590 - 1644

This etching by Jean Toutin, dating from 1590-1644, depicts a pendant shaped like a beetle with intricate, symmetrical ornamentation. Two other beetles are drawn above the central pendant, and below, a couple and a musician are featured. This work demonstrates the 16th-century European fascination with nature and the meticulous attention to detail in the artist's rendering of the insects and the pendant's design. The pendant's intricate form and the lively figures in the composition highlight the rich craftsmanship and artistic sensibilities of the era.