Omslag voor de proefaflevering van de Atlas der Geschiedenissen van onzen tyd, 1787 1787

This is Willem Kok’s cover for the trial edition of the Atlas der Geschiedenissen van onzen tyd, made in 1787. As a young artist in the Netherlands, Kok was living through a period of political and intellectual ferment. The Dutch Republic was on the cusp of significant upheaval, and the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and knowledge was transforming society. The Atlas was conceived within this context. It aimed to chronicle contemporary events, reflecting a desire to understand and document the rapidly changing world. Consider the implications of creating an "atlas" not of geography, but of history. The stark typography and the almost clinical presentation speak to the Enlightenment's emphasis on empirical observation. The atlas isn't just a record; it’s an attempt to impose order on the chaos of current affairs. It invites us to reflect on how we construct narratives about our own time.