Als hy dees nieuwe wereld ziet / 't is al verkeerd' en 'raakt tot niet 1761 - 1781

This engraving, "Als hy dees nieuwe wereld ziet / 't is al verkeerd' en 'raakt tot niet," was created by W. Hegerman in Amsterdam. The composition is strikingly ordered, featuring a grid of small, contained scenes, each a microcosm of societal observations. This structured arrangement offers a sense of control over the chaotic subject matter, yet the primitive, almost crude, lines unsettle this order. The monochromatic palette directs our focus to the forms themselves, emphasizing the stark realities depicted. This piece seems to delve into a critique of the world's follies, using each framed image as a signifier within a larger semiotic structure. Hegerman destabilizes conventional meanings by presenting a world where norms are inverted, and values are questioned. The rudimentary style adds to this sense of unease. Ultimately, the formal qualities of this engraving—its rigid structure combined with the raw, unsettling imagery—serve not just as aesthetic choices but as a commentary on a world perceived as being fundamentally 'wrong'. It invites us to continuously interpret and reinterpret our societal constructs.