Zestien penningen met versierde lijsten 1647 - 1682

Simon de la Boissière created 'Zestien penningen met versierde lijsten' using engraving. The arrangement of sixteen medallions on this sheet creates a structured grid, each held within an ornate frame and connected by delicate bars. This immediately suggests an intent to classify and display. Each medallion is rendered in meticulous detail, highlighting the play of light and shadow across the depicted surfaces, lending a tactile quality to the print. The visual organization invites us to consider the relationships between the images. The act of collecting and organizing was a common means of imposing order on the world, reflecting a desire to understand and control knowledge during this period. The consistent style and presentation of the medallions evoke a sense of rational ordering and aesthetic harmony. Consider how this formal arrangement reflects broader intellectual trends of the time, engaging with the semiotic systems through which knowledge and power were communicated and reinforced.