Eeuwigdurende kalender met randvignetten en mes 1607

This intriguing print, titled "Eeuwigdurende kalender met randvignetten en mes," resides here at the Rijksmuseum and presents a fascinating formal arrangement. The anonymous artist has organized a grid-like composition filled with symbolic imagery. Vignettes of celestial bodies, allegorical figures, and scenes from classical mythology populate the upper sections, while dense tables of numbers, inscriptions, and a large knife fill the lower half. The knife divides the world into that which can be measured and that which exceeds temporal calculation. Each vignette functions as a semiotic sign, contributing to a larger symbolic structure. The placement of solar and lunar imagery, juxtaposed with scenes of human endeavor, suggests a meditation on the relationship between divine order and earthly existence. The presence of the knife challenges notions of fixed meaning, hinting at the impermanence of earthly life. This artwork invites ongoing interpretation, as the interplay of form and content sparks a deeper reflection on the human condition.