Retorica (Welsprekendheid) c. 1600 - 1685

This is Jean Baptiste Humbelot's "Retorica (Welsprekendheid)," an engraving that presents a visual allegory of rhetoric. The composition is dominated by a central female figure, adorned with symbolic objects, set against a landscape with dynamic cloud formations. Notice how Humbelot uses intricate linework to define the textures of her clothing and hair, creating a rich interplay of light and shadow. The caduceus she holds, usually associated with commerce, suggests the persuasive and transformative power of eloquent speech. The hourglass, resting on an open book, might allude to the measured, deliberate nature of rhetoric, linking knowledge with the careful management of time. Considering structuralism, the image is like a semiotic system where each element functions as a sign. The figure's gaze and posture construct an intentional narrative, reflecting the seventeenth-century concern with effective communication. The artwork destabilizes the common understanding of rhetoric as mere ornamentation of speech. Instead, it frames rhetoric as a powerful instrument of social and political influence. This engraving not only displays artistic skill but also reveals a profound understanding of the relationship between language, knowledge, and power.