Van 32-jarige tot 48-jarige leeftijd: de ionische orde 1577

This engraving, "From age 32 to 48: the Ionic Order," was created around the late 16th century by Wierix. Notice how the architectural rendering divides the composition into sharply contrasting spaces, from domestic scenes of family, to the violence unfolding in the background. The Ionic order depicted in the building is set against the disorder of conflict. This contrast destabilizes our reading; what values are being presented? The graphic qualities of the engraving, with its precise lines and textures, create a structured visual field. However, this structure contains a multitude of elements that resist easy categorization. The architecture and Ionic references serve as cultural codes inviting viewers to contemplate the social and political realities of the period. Consider how Wierix uses form to open up spaces of questioning, prompting us to look beyond the surface to the tensions between order and chaos, peace and violence, inherent in human experience.