Tekstblad met verklaring van de prent over Zichtkunde, p. 35 1695

This page, printed by Charles Perrault, likely around the turn of the 18th century, is a meditation on optics, or the power of our eyes. Notice how the text elevates the eyes to almost divine status, as they "fathom the secrets of the Earth and the Heavens." The eye as a symbol has been laden with meaning across millennia. Think of the Eye of Providence, an ancient emblem of divine omniscience, or the all-seeing eye, a protective symbol found in ancient Egypt. We see a similar motif echoed even in contemporary contexts, such as the Eye of Sauron, symbolizing the dark lord's all-encompassing perception in the literary work The Lord of the Rings. This recurring motif speaks to our deep-seated fascination with the power of sight, transcending cultural boundaries and historical periods. In each iteration, the eye embodies a powerful force, engaging viewers on a profound, subconscious level. As we see, the symbolic power of the eye endures, evolving yet eternally capturing our imagination.