A detailed Dutch Golden Age drawing depicting a romantic scene of lovers carving their names into a tree, rendered in pen and brown ink with grey wash.

This drawing by Jacob Lois depicts a classical scene of lovers carving their names into the bark of a tree. The ambiguity of the title, which suggests either the mythological figures of Paris and Oenone or the literary characters of Angelica and Medoro, reflects the common practice of the period to draw upon both classical antiquity and epic poetry for subject matter. The composition is structured around the central act of inscription, with the male figure reaching towards the trunk while the female figure rests nearby.

Lois employs a delicate use of pen and brown ink, supplemented by grey wash to define the forms and create a sense of volume within the figures and the surrounding foliage. The background includes secondary figures, perhaps satyrs or attendants, who observe the scene from a distance, adding a layer of narrative complexity. A dog rests in the foreground, a traditional symbol of fidelity often included in such romantic depictions. The draughtsmanship displays the characteristic precision of the Dutch Golden Age, with careful attention paid to the anatomy of the figures and the textures of the natural environment. The work is executed on paper, showing the artist's ability to manage light and shadow through wash techniques. This piece offers an insight into the thematic interests of seventeenth-century Dutch artists, who frequently explored themes of love, nature, and classical literature through refined graphic works. The clarity of the line work and the balanced arrangement of the figures demonstrate the technical skill typical of the period's academic training.