Uittreksel uit het doopregister Possibly 1779 - 1782

This baptismal register extract was created by an anonymous artist in 1779. The document is a symphony of line and form, composed on paper with ink. The artist’s formal choices are immediately apparent; the script is elegant and flowing. The visual structure of the handwritten script follows a rigid order, yet the composition of the script conveys an almost organic feel. The composition is determined by the lines of script, each a visual register. There is a tension between these lines and the forms of the letters – the ‘tails’ of descending letters and the ‘ascenders’ of the rising letters. The visual rhythm mirrors its purpose—a formal record of a sacred event, yet rendered in a human hand. The placement of the text within the frame creates a visual tension, reflecting the balance between divine ordinance and human agency. The composition doesn’t just present information; it embodies a cultural and philosophical intersection, challenging fixed meanings of text and image. It is a testament to the power of form, and of interpretation.