Schelpen, angaria delphinus (A) en cymatium pileare (B) 1644 - 1652

Wenceslaus Hollar created this image of shells at an unknown date using etching. What immediately strikes you is Hollar's masterful use of line and texture to capture the intricate details of the seashells. The arrangement of the shells on the plate invites a semiotic reading. Note how shell A on the left with its orifice upwards contrasts with shell B on the right, which is oriented horizontally. The contrast encourages a viewer to engage in comparative analysis. Hollar uses the formal structure of the composition to trigger deeper reflections on the relationship between nature and artifice. The work doesn't simply depict shells. The sharp, clear lines against the blank background also underscore the act of observation and documentation itself. In doing so, the image destabilizes the established meaning, prompting ongoing interpretation and reinterpretation.