Plattegrond van Maastricht, ca. 1695 1695 - 1697

This is an anonymous plan of Maastricht made around 1695. The image consists of fine lines, hatched areas, and cartographic symbols to evoke a feeling of clarity. This map presents a structured and ordered view of the city. The composition is dominated by the city's fortifications and the river, which together create a sense of containment. The rigid geometry of the bastions and the orthogonal layout of the streets reflect the 17th-century emphasis on reason, order, and control. This order signifies power, reflecting a desire to impose structure on both the physical and social landscape. The plan invites a dialogue between the objective representation of space and the subjective experience of place. It serves as a sign system, encoding not just geographical data but also cultural values and ideological perspectives on urban planning. The map thus reveals how the city itself functions as a semiotic space, layered with signs and meanings that shape our understanding of the world.