Titelprent voor 'Epistolae' [= 'Ontledingen en ontdekkingen van levende dierkens in de teel-deelen van verscheyde dieren, vogelen en visschen (...) tot Londen in Engeland' of 'Anatomia seu Interiora rerum, (...) ulteriore dilucidatione epistolis'?] van Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 1685

This is Romeyn de Hooghe's title page made around 1685 for Antonie van Leeuwenhoek’s ‘Epistolae,’ a collection detailing his microscopic investigations. De Hooghe was working in a Dutch Republic characterized by its Golden Age, a period of unprecedented economic, scientific, and artistic flourishing. The print allegorically represents Leeuwenhoek’s discoveries through a host of figures. A bare-breasted representation of Natura is at the center, unveiling herself to reveal nature’s secrets, while allegorical figures representing fields of study surround her. Consider how the representation of Natura, as a European woman, could be interpreted as a symbolic gesture of dominance over the natural world through scientific discovery. Leeuwenhoek's work, while groundbreaking, was also a product of its time, reflecting the power structures inherent in the pursuit of knowledge. De Hooghe was a controversial figure, and his perspectives are definitely something to consider. The emotional impact of this print lies in the implied promise of unveiling hidden truths. It serves as a powerful reminder of the complex interplay between scientific advancement, cultural context, and the representation of knowledge itself.