Landschap in ornamentale omlijsting 1537 - 1550

Antonio Fantuzzi created this landscape within an ornamental setting through etching sometime around 1537 to 1545. Note how Fantuzzi has structured this print. A distant landscape is framed by a decorative border populated with figures, fruits and architectural elements. The landscape recedes into the background, defined by a series of fine, parallel lines to suggest atmospheric perspective. This formal device creates depth within the composition, while the density of the lines gives texture to the terrain. The surrounding border contrasts with the openness of the landscape. Fantuzzi uses classical motifs, such as the embracing satyr couples, to destabilize the conventional distinction between nature and culture. How do the figures interact with the landscape? The satyrs are earthly, yet refined by their placement within this design. The figures challenge us to consider the interplay between the wild and the cultivated, the natural and the artificial. Through this interplay of form and motif, Fantuzzi invites us to ponder the layered meanings embedded within this landscape.