Pyramus en Thisbe 1580 - 1596

This fragmented print of Pyramus and Thisbe is found in the Rijksmuseum, created by an anonymous artist. The print, through its partial survival, offers a compelling glimpse into the visual and narrative structures of its time. The composition, though incomplete, reveals a sophisticated understanding of spatial arrangement and tonal variation. Notice how the use of hatching and cross-hatching creates a sense of depth, guiding the eye through the architectural ruins and the landscape. The fragmented state of the print disrupts the conventional reading of the classical tale, forcing a re-evaluation of narrative coherence. Each tear and missing piece becomes a signifier, transforming the print into a meditation on loss, memory, and the incompleteness inherent in representation. The aesthetic engages with post-structuralist ideas that question the stability of meaning, suggesting that the artwork's significance lies not only in what it depicts but also in what is absent.