Opdracht aan de lezer 1622

This printed page, etched by Nicolaes Ryckmans, presents an elaborate initial “V”, interwoven with foliage, to introduce a printed text. The entwined leaves and tendrils remind us of the "horror vacui" of medieval illuminated manuscripts, where every space was filled with symbolic imagery, a desire to ward off emptiness with meaning. Consider how this motif resurfaces throughout history, in Celtic knotwork or the dense patterns of Islamic art. There is a psychological element at play, a deep-seated human need to impose order on chaos, filling the void with our own creations. This initial invites us into the text, yet it also serves as a threshold, a liminal space where the rational world of words meets the subconscious allure of ornament. The initial is not just a letter, but an image, speaking to our emotions as much as to our intellect. It is a reminder of how even the most functional elements of our world can be imbued with layers of meaning, passed down through generations, constantly evolving, and resonating with our shared human experience.