XV Wie deyts, soo geyts 1614

This is an engraving, "XV Wie deyts, soo geyts," by Roemer Visscher, likely made around the late 16th or early 17th century. The image is dominated by a central figure, a cherubic child, precariously balanced on a sphere. The formal arrangement is striking. The verticality of the child is emphasized by stilts which create a precarious, unstable composition that is echoed in the instability of the sphere. The use of chiaroscuro creates depth, highlighting the child's form and the texture of the landscape. Visscher destabilizes the traditional allegorical image by using stark, unidealized forms. This challenges any fixed meaning and instead invites questions about perception and morality. The sphere might symbolize the world, while the stilts represent human ambition. The image's power lies in its ability to continuously provoke fresh interpretations.