Vijfhoek rond een gelijkbenige driehoek met onderaan ruïnes 1669

This small print, "Vijfhoek rond een gelijkbenige driehoek met onderaan ruïnes", was etched by Sébastien Leclerc I. Its formal structure marries geometry with decay. At the top, we observe precise lines forming a pentagon enclosing an isosceles triangle. A circle delicately circumscribes the pentagon, grounding the geometric shapes. Below, this order contrasts starkly with the ruins. The composition invites a semiotic reading: the geometric shapes signify order, knowledge, and perhaps the ideals of a structured world, while the crumbling ruins suggest the transience of human endeavor and the inevitable decay of systems. The artist thus poses a philosophical question about permanence and change. Leclerc uses the contrast between geometric precision and organic decay not only to create visual interest but also to engage in a broader dialogue about the nature of existence. The piece invites us to contemplate the relationship between abstract ideals and the material world.