Cartouche met een citaat van Cicero 1555

This engraving, *Cartouche met een citaat van Cicero*, was made by Frans Huys in the mid-16th century. Notice how the image consists of dense, cross-hatched lines that articulate depth and texture. The cartouche itself is an elaborate exercise in symmetry and balance. Huys uses the cartouche as a frame, a structured space, within which Cicero's quote is displayed. The quote emphasizes that true honor lies in despising money, if you don't have it; otherwise, it lies in using it for generosity and beneficence. We see the formal structure mirroring this sentiment, containing classical motifs. The grotesque heads and floral elements are balanced, presenting a world of aesthetic order and thoughtful intention. Consider how the engraving functions as a philosophical statement, where the visual and the textual converge. This fusion of form and content provides a rich space for reflection on wealth, virtue, and the careful construction of meaning.