Twee voorstellingen van de aarde 1690

This undated print by an anonymous artist in the Rijksmuseum presents “Two Depictions of the Earth,” rendered in detailed etching. The composition is strikingly divided into two circular diagrams, each representing different aspects of the earth. The texture is dominated by dense, stippled patterns which create an overall sense of a dynamic, almost vibrating surface. The circles are not merely representational, they are structural devices that challenge conventional understandings of space and form. The arrangement of figures around these circles—some tending to machinery, others engaged in mundane tasks—introduces a semiotic layer, hinting at humanity's relationship with the earth. The circles can be interpreted as semiotic signs, destabilizing any fixed meaning of geographical representation. The print invites us to reconsider the earth not as a static entity but as a site of continual interaction and interpretation, reflective of broader philosophical inquiries into perception and knowledge.