Newes Modelbuch in Kupffer (Page 48r) 1604

This is an engraving titled "Newes Modelbuch in Kupffer (Page 48r)" created by Johann Sibmacher around the turn of the 17th century. The work is split into two registers, each filled with a dense array of geometric patterns. The sharp contrast between the black ink and the off-white page creates a striking visual effect. The patterns are constructed from simple shapes like squares, triangles, and circles, combined in complex arrangements. Sibmacher’s work reveals an impulse to codify and categorize the visual world. The grid-like structure and the repetition of motifs suggest a structured system, not unlike the systems that underpin language itself. The engraving invites us to consider the underlying principles of design and the ways in which simple elements can be combined to create complex and visually compelling forms. In this sense, the artwork functions as a semiotic system, inviting viewers to decode the visual language and appreciate the inherent beauty of structure.