Verwonding van Hendrik II tijdens een toernooi, 1559 1570

This etching by Jean Perrissin captures the injury of Henry II during a tournament in 1559. The composition is densely packed, divided into horizontal bands of spectators, participants, and architecture, all meticulously rendered with fine lines. The monochromatic palette focuses attention on the detailed textures and patterns, from the crowd’s attire to the buildings’ facades. Notice the stark contrast between the static, orderly crowd and the dynamic chaos of the jousting knights. This contrast creates a visual tension, drawing our eyes to the central event of the injury. The artist uses linear perspective to create a sense of depth, but it is somewhat flattened, emphasizing the surface and the graphic quality of the print. Perrissin’s work functions as both a historical record and a semiotic representation of power, spectacle, and tragedy. The formal elements – line, texture, composition – converge to communicate not just an event, but also the cultural values and anxieties of the time.