Verlangen 1533 - 1567

Enea Vico's "Verlangen," created in the 16th century, invites us into a world meticulously etched with lines of desire. The composition is dominated by a figure reaching for fruit, their body forming a dynamic diagonal against the static verticality of the tree. The artist's use of line is striking; dense cross-hatching creates depth and texture, especially in the foliage, while finer lines define the figure's draped form. The inscription, "QVICQVID DIFFICILE EST APPREHENSV ID POSCIVS VTERE," adds a layer of semiotic complexity, suggesting that one should eagerly use whatever is difficult to obtain. Vico's print challenges fixed meanings through its dynamic tension and carefully structured lines. We are left to consider the interplay between desire and attainment and how the structural elements contribute to a discourse about the human condition.