Promotieprent voor Joannes Baptista a Pfeiffersberg 1661 - 1725

Arnold van Westerhout created this promotional print for Joannes Baptista a Pfeiffersberg. The print is divided into quadrants, each presenting densely populated scenes. The upper panels show celestial gatherings, full of floating figures. The lower ones feature earthbound characters. The composition here creates a fascinating tension through its use of symmetry. Note how the layout of each half mirrors the other, yet each is filled with different figures. Van Westerhout uses the mirrored structure to create a sense of balance, even as the details within each panel vary. This symmetry isn't just aesthetic; it suggests a world governed by order, and divine parallelism. The division into quadrants reflects a structured view of knowledge, aligning earthly events with heavenly approval. The image uses this structure to propose a world where power and knowledge are systematically organized and divinely sanctioned. The visual structure suggests that meaning isn't singular but constructed through relationships. This print invites us to consider how such forms reinforce the intellectual frameworks that shape our understanding of the world.