Titelblad van de Comptoir Almanach van 1616 1615

This is the title page of the Comptoir Almanach of 1616, made by an anonymous artist with engraving. The symmetrical composition is immediately striking. Two figures flank the central text, creating a balanced visual structure. The symmetry extends upwards, where two cherubic figures are posed on either side of the Amsterdam coat of arms, and downwards to an architectural structure with many people, set within a decorative frame. This architectural image, reminiscent of a stage, creates an interesting juxtaposition between the public and the personal. The use of stark contrasts and fine lines enhances the textual and visual elements of the almanac, which function as signs to interpret the world and establish a sense of order and meaning. The very structure is a framework for understanding the world, where images and text intersect.