Wereldbol omringd door figuren uit verschillende werelddelen 1625 - 1675

This engraving, "Wereldbol omringd door figuren uit verschillende werelddelen" was created by Jean Picart, using line engraving. The composition is split into two distinct halves, and the surface of the print is a complex interplay of finely etched lines that create a range of tones and textures. Visually, the globe becomes a focal point, positioned centrally and surrounded by figures that embody the continents. The sun, the rainbow, and the Hebrew inscription above the globe are not merely decorative, but serve as structural elements. Here the artist uses semiotics to imbue the image with cultural meanings. The figures are meticulously rendered, and through costume and posture, Picart encodes a hierarchy of power, destabilising the perceived order of the world and questioning the dominant narratives of the time. The print functions as an intellectual map, inviting reflection on the era's global consciousness and the dynamics of intercultural exchange.