Schepping van de wereld en van licht en donker 1690

This undated print by an anonymous artist at the Rijksmuseum, titled “Creation of the World and of Light and Dark,” presents a compelling cosmogony through the stark contrast of its monochrome palette. The composition is dominated by circular forms; note how these orbs, meticulously rendered, create a visual hierarchy that draws the eye from the initial darkness to the emerging light. The circles, arranged in tiers, are not merely representational but function as structural elements that articulate the conceptual layers of creation. The artist uses gradations of tone to symbolize the transition from chaos to order, darkness to light, employing a semiotic system where darkness signifies the void and light represents divine intervention. Consider how the linear details within the circles—tightly woven patterns—suggest movement and energy, destabilizing any sense of static representation. This print, therefore, is not just an illustration but a profound meditation on origins, using form and structure to engage with philosophical questions about existence and divine will.