Kandelaber, geflankeerd door zes kleine vlakdecoraties met grotesken c. 1525 - 1594

This is Hans Sibmacher's "Candelabrum, Flanked by Six Small Flat Decorations with Grotesques," an etching that presents us with a world steeped in the visual language of the late Renaissance. The grotesque style, with its playful combination of human, animal, and plant forms, reflects a society grappling with shifting boundaries and identities. These images became popular in the 16th-century, following the rediscovery of ancient Roman art, becoming widespread as a source of ornament for the decorative arts. What does it mean to create new forms by combining existing elements? Sibmacher’s meticulous rendering invites us to consider how identities are constructed and negotiated through visual culture. By engaging with these historical images, we can reflect on the ongoing construction of identity and representation in our own time.