Andromeda aan de rots geketend 1597 - 1652

Jacob Matham created this engraving, "Andromeda aan de rots geketend," using a burin to carve the lines into a copper plate. The composition is divided, on one side, by the crowd and on the other side, by Andromeda chained to the rock. This creates a visual tension, contrasting communal suffering with individual plight. Matham’s use of line is remarkable. The lines are dense and create a dramatic contrast between light and shadow. This density adds texture and volume to the figures, emphasizing the emotional weight of the scene. It also helps create depth within the scene, by focusing on the foreground figures against the detailed but less contrasted crowd. The engraving technique itself highlights the dichotomy between freedom and constraint, mirroring the narrative's theme. The stark contrast between light and shadow reflects a period grappling with moral and existential questions. The lines both define and confine, revealing a deeper engagement with the concepts of liberation and imprisonment.