Losse fragmenten van een prent van het tafereel van Cebes 1561 - 1596

These are loose fragments of a print of the "Tafereel van Cebes" made by Philips Galle around the late 16th century. These incomplete, isolated shapes float on the page like islands in a vast ocean. Galle’s use of engraving offers a stark contrast, a binary of black ink against the white paper. The fragmented composition invites us to piece together a narrative, to speculate on what once was. Each piece, though small, contains intricate details—swirls, lines, and patterns—evidence of the artist's meticulous hand. The disintegration of the whole into parts disrupts the conventional reading of an image. The visual syntax of the complete image is lost, and what remains is a series of abstract forms that challenge our perception and expectations. Consider how this deconstruction mirrors broader philosophical shifts of the time, a move away from unified, coherent narratives towards more fractured and individualistic perspectives. This print, in its fragmented state, stands as a testament to the power of deconstruction, prompting us to question the nature of wholeness and meaning.