Hendrick Goltzius's design is populated with numerous symbols of vision, including Venus looking at herself in a mirror; a cat and an eagle, both creatures associated with superior eyesight; and several scientists analyzing their instruments. Every aspect of this print underscores the erudition of the Dutch Mannerists, from the idealized nude to the academic subtext and the meticulous engraving technique. A Latin inscription reads, "I recall from experience that this offers the viewer both pain and pleasure."