Kaart van Noord-Frankrijk, 1712 1712

This detailed map of Northern France was crafted by Jacobus Harrewijn in 1712, etching a region steeped in history onto paper. Look closely, and you’ll notice the careful rendering of forests. These are not merely geographic features but potent symbols. Forests have long been seen as places of mystery, refuge, and even danger. We can trace this symbolism back to ancient mythologies, where forests often represent the unknown, the realm of gods and spirits. In visual culture, from medieval tapestries to Romantic paintings, the forest carries this weight, evolving yet persisting. Think of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. These deep, dark woods are places of transformation, reflecting our collective fears and hopes. Harrewijn’s map, while seemingly objective, taps into this same subconscious—a silent acknowledgment of the forest's psychological power. The map becomes more than a document; it's a landscape of the mind, echoing through centuries.