Drukkersmerk van Johann Feyerabend met een trompetterende Fama 1579

Jost Amman created this printer's mark for Johann Feyerabend, featuring a trumpeting Fama, using woodcut techniques. Notice how the composition is structured around a central oval, tightly packed with symbolic elements. The figure of Fama, or Fame, dominates the space, her trumpets blaring towards the edges of the oval. Amman uses line and texture to create a sense of depth and movement within the confined space. The surrounding border is equally dense, filled with cherubs, fruit, and grotesque masks, creating a visual feast that borders on the overwhelming. This print exemplifies the 16th-century aesthetic, where symbolism and allegory were paramount. The act of printing itself, and the spread of knowledge through printed books, are elevated through the classical allegory of Fame. The mark doesn't just identify a printer; it declares a commitment to spreading knowledge.