Detailkaart van een rivierbocht met de omliggende weilanden 1778

This is Cornelis Bogerts' "Detail map of a river bend with the surrounding meadows," an undated drawing held at the Rijksmuseum. The drawing presents a bird's-eye view where geometric precision meets organic form. Note the sharp, straight lines carving out rectangular fields, juxtaposed against the meandering curves of the river. The river itself dominates the upper register of the picture, its textured edge hinting at the constant push and pull of water against land. The fields, arranged in rigid grids, suggest an imposition of human order. The contrast between natural and man-made creates a semiotic tension, questioning our relationship with nature. The formal structure invites us to reflect on the act of mapping itself: How does one reduce a complex landscape to a series of lines and shapes? Bogerts' work destabilizes our perception of space, urging us to consider how we categorize and control the natural world through representation. The drawing, with its interplay of lines and forms, prompts us to question the power structures inherent in how we perceive and delineate our surroundings.