Op een fries, gedecoreerd met drie vierkante velden met mascarons, zitten vier gehurkte saters c. 1525 - 1594

Hans Sibmacher created this ornamental design featuring satyrs and mascarons, sometime before 1611. During the late Renaissance, ornament prints like this one were not just decorative, they were vital tools for artisans. Here, Sibmacher presents a frieze populated with classical figures. Satyrs, those hybrid creatures of man and beast, were often associated with revelry. But let’s consider how these images might function within the cultural landscape of the time. The satyrs, frozen in their poses, hint at the complexities of identity and representation. The design invites us to reflect on the era’s fascination with classical forms and the ways in which the body was presented and controlled. Ultimately, Sibmacher's drawing offers more than mere decoration. It presents a fascinating dialogue between the classical past and the artistic practices of the Renaissance, prompting us to consider the cultural values embedded in ornamental design.