Illustratie voor: Arend Fokke Simonsz., De graveur, behelzende eene beknopte handleiding tot de daktylioglyphia, of graveerkunst, 1796 1796

Jan Oortman created this illustration for Arend Fokke Simonsz's book on engraving in 1796, using etching to create a world of intricate lines and detailed textures. The composition is structured around a classical scene, immediately grounding us in a world of established forms and meanings. The architectural backdrop, with its strong vertical columns, frames a scene of spinning and offering. Note how the lines create a sense of depth, drawing the eye from the foreground figures to the distant ship at sea. The figures are arranged in a deliberate manner, a semiotic system of signs, with each gesture and object contributing to the narrative. The lines create texture and volume, giving life to the folds of clothing and the surfaces of objects. Oortman uses the formal elements to create a dialogue between tradition and innovation. The classical setting and the activity of spinning and weaving evoke themes of creation, skill, and the passage of time. This illustration is not just a visual accompaniment to the text, it’s a meditation on the role of the artist as an engraver.