Zes segmenten van een hemelkaart, bedoeld voor een hemelglobe 1777 - 1810

This is a star chart by an anonymous artist, rendered with ink and watercolor on paper. The surface is divided into six segments, an unusual configuration that begs the question: how does such a structure alter our perception of the cosmos? Each section teems with constellations depicted as mythical creatures and figures, their forms and arrangements dictated by ancient narratives. The use of color is restrained, yet strategic, guiding the eye through a celestial tapestry where shades of red, yellow, and blue articulate distinct astral regions. The lines that define the constellations and segment boundaries impose a grid-like order that both maps and contains the boundless expanse of space. This formal structure—the segmented view of the heavens—invites us to consider how we categorize and compartmentalize the infinite. The chart challenges any singular perspective, suggesting instead a universe viewed in fragments, each laden with cultural and symbolic weight. The act of mapping, therefore, becomes an act of interpretation, where form shapes and reveals meaning.