Jonge vrouw met een eenhoorn after 1602

This engraving, "Young Woman with a Unicorn," comes to us from an anonymous hand. The tonal structure of the piece immediately draws you in. Notice how the dense, cross-hatched lines define the trees and distant landscape, contrasting with the smoother treatment of the figures. This use of line and tone divides the composition into distinct spatial zones. The young woman and unicorn are tightly bound in the foreground, forming a central, almost sculptural mass. The background flattens into a tapestry of trees and hills. The artwork asks us to examine the semiotic relationship between the woman, the unicorn, and the landscape, each operating as a sign within a broader cultural code. Is it a challenge to fixed meanings, or is it simply a romantic depiction of nature? Ultimately, this anonymous engraving invites ongoing interpretation, reminding us that art is a space for continuous dialogue and re-evaluation.