Oogbol doordrongen door een straal 1679

This etching, "Oogbol doordrongen door een straal," was created by Sébastien Leclerc I in the 17th century. The artwork's composition divides the space into distinct zones. A stark, ray pierces from point 'A' to a stylized eyeball labeled 'C,' contrasting with the detailed landscape below. The etching's stark geometry and symbolic elements reflect the period's fascination with optics and the science of vision. Leclerc employs a semiotic system where simple lines and shapes convey complex scientific principles. The ray of light, rendered as a precise line, contrasts with the naturalistic rendering of the landscape, creating a dialogue between the abstract and the representational. Note the unsettling nature of the title, “Eyeball Pierced by a Ray.” The abstract components and their juxtaposition with the representational landscape form a philosophical statement about perception, truth, and the mechanics of sight. The work serves as both an illustration and a meditation on how we visually interpret and understand the world.