Sphinx Wearing a Crescent on Her Head 

Jean Mignon created this intaglio print, "Sphinx Wearing a Crescent on Her Head," sometime between 1535 and 1555. The sepia-toned image shows an ornate figure set against an oval ground. The composition invites us to decode its symbolic language. The central figure of the Sphinx, with its human head and animal body, immediately presents a hybrid form, challenging fixed categories. The crescent moon atop her head introduces celestial and mythical dimensions. Symmetrical patterns, stylized dolphins, and decorative pendants create a visually complex and structured design. The sphinx motif was highly popular during the Renaissance, often used in decorative arts. Note the graphic structure and the use of symmetry, which point to a deeper order. The print is not merely decorative, but an exploration of form, symmetry, and symbolic representation, inviting us to question the boundaries between the human, animal, and divine.