Plate 7: ox, from 'Various animals' (Diversi animali) 1636 - 1646

Stefano della Bella created this etching, 'Plate 7: ox, from 'Various animals', at an unknown date. Here, a large ox dominates the foreground, its form meticulously rendered through fine, closely-knit lines. The lines create a play of light and shadow across the animal's body, conveying a sense of volume and texture. Della Bella uses line and scale to explore the relationship between representation and reality. The ox is not merely depicted; it is constructed through a network of signs. We can see that the deliberate arrangement and contrast of these signs challenge the conventional understanding of space and form. This challenges fixed perspectives, encouraging viewers to question how we perceive and categorize the natural world through art. Ultimately, it is the structural interplay of line, form, and space, rather than just the subject, that creates the art's enduring appeal. These elements invite us to actively participate in interpreting its significance.