Fons Vitae 1608 - 1658

This is Abraham Hogenberg’s engraving, Fons Vitae. The composition is structured around a vertical axis, with Christ centrally positioned above a fountain. Note the contrasting textures: the soft, cloud-like forms surrounding the cherubic figures above, against the sharp, geometric architecture of the fountain below. Hogenberg uses line and light to guide our eyes upward, culminating in the radiant halo around Christ’s head. The lines forming the water streams draw attention to the connection between Christ and the fountain, a symbolic source of life. The graphic quality of the engraving, with its stark contrasts, heightens the dramatic tension. The image's semiotic structure invites us to reflect on the intersections of the divine and earthly realms, framed within the visual language of the late 16th to early 17th century. The precise lines and detailed forms emphasize the theological themes. It captures an era of religious and artistic transformation.