Vers over het weer van 1689 1689 - 1690

Jacob ter Beek created this print, "Vers over het weer van 1689," that's "Verse on the Weather of 1689," using etching. The overall visual impact lies in its textual density; lines of neatly arranged lettering fill the small rectangular space, capped with a decorative crest. The poem narrates the weather conditions of 1689, transforming meteorological data into a structured artistic expression. The choice of script as the primary medium elevates the descriptive text into art. Its linear structure mirrors the chronological progression of the poem and mimics the structured regularity of the seasons themselves. The contrast between the crisp, dark lettering and the pale paper surface underscores a kind of binary opposition. The piece engages with early forms of data collection and dissemination, but it also reflects a broader cultural desire to understand the natural world through the lens of human observation and ordering. Consider the function of this piece not just as a record but as a form of communication. The structural elements—the lettering, the layout, the crest—work together to convey information and invite contemplation on nature's rhythms and the human urge to codify them. The use of language and typography can be viewed through structuralist theories, which emphasize how language structures our perception of reality.