Ontwerptekening voor een bord met een dame met parasol before 1736

Cornelis Pronk created this design drawing for a plate featuring a lady with a parasol, sometime in the first half of the 18th century. Executed with pen and watercolor, the design presents a circular composition, setting up a clear hierarchy of space. The central scene depicts figures in an idyllic landscape, bordered by decorative bands. A semiotic reading reveals layers of meaning; the outer concentric band is punctuated by cartouches containing symbolic motifs, alternating with floral arrangements, creating rhythm and balance. The central scene disrupts this symmetry with asymmetrical figures that invite the viewer's eye. Pronk uses the circle, not just as a shape, but as a container of cultural narratives. This circular design challenges fixed perspectives, prompting ongoing interpretation of cultural exchange and artistic expression.