Verrijdbare lens 1787 - 1808

"Verrijdbare Lens," or "Movable Lens," is a pen and ink drawing by Jan Brandes, created sometime between 1743 and 1808. Brandes, a Dutch clergyman and traveler, made this technical drawing, which reflects the period's fascination with optics and the science of seeing. The drawing reveals the intersection of the Enlightenment's emphasis on empirical observation with the era’s technological advancements. It evokes questions about how knowledge is constructed. How does a device like this change or mediate our perception of the world? How might social and cultural biases influence what we choose to focus on and how we interpret it? The drawing embodies the intellectual and cultural values of its time, a period marked by exploration, scientific inquiry, and evolving notions of vision and representation. It invites us to consider how our tools shape our understanding, and how our understandings shape our world.