Lofdicht op Gesina ter Borch (deel een) 1660

Here is the first page of “Lofdicht op Gesina ter Borch” by Robertus Altius. This work presents a visual field densely populated by handwritten script across the paper. The composition, defined by the arrangement of the text, is not strictly linear but curves and bends, creating a sense of dynamism within the static medium. The formal structure of this piece destabilizes traditional notions of textual presentation. The handwriting, with its varying pressure and flow, introduces a semiotic layer—a set of signs—where the physical act of writing becomes integral to the meaning conveyed. The deviations from a standard typographic form invite us to consider the materiality of the text itself as a carrier of meaning beyond the semantic content. The structural layout challenges fixed meanings by blending form and content into a cohesive field, which embodies the poem's tribute to Gesina ter Borch. Here, the work stands as an open text, inviting interpretations that acknowledge the fluidity and subjectivity inherent in both artistic creation and reception.