Grafbord van Nicolaas Baukes (gestorven 1683), directeur van Bengalen (1681-83) after 1767

This 'Grafbord' was made in 1683 by an anonymous artist. The lozenge shape is striking, as is the dark background. The eye is drawn to the center by the heraldic arms of Nicolaas Baukes, framed by scrolling foliage and a knight's helmet. Consider the composition. The diamond shape destabilizes the traditional square or rectangle, creating tension. The arms are symmetrical, but the two-tone division down the shield adds asymmetry, while the letters and numbers further divide the space. The artist uses line to differentiate and define both form and boundary, and we see a hierarchy of shapes—the lozenge, the crest, the shield. The artist has used a formal structure, but it is more than just decorative. The heraldry tells us something about a person, but the format tells us about representation. It asks us to think about structure and meaning, to decode the semiotic system.