Plattegrond van Sint-Winoksbergen 1735

This anonymous engraving offers a bird's-eye view of Sint-Winoksbergen, rendered with remarkable precision. The composition is dominated by the circular layout of the city, a form that immediately evokes a sense of order and containment. The strict geometry, achieved through fine, uniform lines, suggests an underlying conceptual framework: perhaps an idealized urban plan reflecting early modern ideas about governance and control. Semiotically, the map functions as a symbolic representation of power, using spatial organization to communicate authority. The circular form, a closed system, also raises questions about what it excludes and how it defines its boundaries. Notice the cartouches and lists which frame the map: these are not merely decorative but serve to anchor the represented space within a network of signs, codes, and cultural meanings. This engraving invites us to consider how we map, define, and ultimately control our environments.