Astrology 1503 - 1540

Parmigianino created this engraving, "Astrology," sometime in the first half of the 16th century. Here, the arrangement of lines carves out scenes that evoke the ethereal and the corporeal. Note how the lines build forms that draw the eye, creating contrasts between light and shadow, guiding our gaze across three distinct panels. The lower panel presents a wooded scene filled with nude figures, their forms sensuously rendered. How does Parmigianino balance the graphic, almost intellectual nature of engraving with the humanistic portrayal of the body? The composition is less about narrative and more about a study of form, challenging traditional interpretations. The formal elements invite us to look beyond the surface and to question the deeper structures of meaning. It encourages a re-evaluation of how art destabilizes established modes of representation and engages with evolving ideas about space, perception, and representation.