Titelpagina van album met boog gedragen door twee termen 1572

This is the title page from an album, likely created in the late 16th century. The anonymous artist has employed engraving to construct a visually dense and architecturally themed composition. The structure features two sculpted figures or "terms" supporting an elaborate arch. The arch frames a heraldic shield surrounded by garlands and cherubic figures. The texture, achieved through fine, deliberate lines, creates depth and volume. The formal structure of the page—the symmetrical arrangement of figures, the arch, and the shield—reflects an interest in order and proportion, values central to the architectural treatise it introduces. Yet, within this symmetry, there’s a destabilization of fixed meanings. The monstrous male figures and elegant female figures contrast the heraldic symbolism and playful cherubs. This tension suggests the complex interplay between classical ideals, heraldic tradition, and the emerging aesthetics which were hallmarks of the period. The engraving challenges us to reconsider how form can both uphold and question established values.