Titelpagina voor: Hiëronimus van Alphen, 'Gedigten en Overdenkingen', 1777 1777

Reinier Vinkeles created this title page for Hiëronymus van Alphen’s 'Gedigten en Overdenkingen' in 1777 using etching. The eye is immediately drawn to a symmetrical pyramidal structure crowned with a sphere, flanked by foliage. The monochromatic medium lends a neoclassical austerity to the scene. The composition is structured around the interplay of vertical and horizontal elements. The obelisk, a symbol of steadfastness, rises vertically, while the supporting plinth provides a solid horizontal base. The figures of the woman and children introduce a dynamic element, subtly disrupting the rigid geometry. This tension between the static and the dynamic mirrors the Enlightenment’s complex negotiation between reason and sentiment. The etching functions semiotically, employing classical motifs to convey themes of morality and reflection. The blank tablet on the monument invites the reader to inscribe their own interpretations, underscoring the text's call to contemplation. This structured yet open-ended design reflects the period’s interest in both rational order and individual experience.