Geschiedenis toont een landkaart van het Turkse Rijk 1733

Jan Caspar Philips made this print of a map of the Turkish Empire in Amsterdam around 1733. It was intended as an illustration for a book on contemporary history, reflecting the Dutch Republic's interest in global affairs. But it's not just a straightforward depiction of geography. The image is laden with symbols, figures in Ottoman dress, and classical allegories. A pyramid places the scene in a fabricated orient, and the map is presented as a tableau of cultural exchange between Europe and the East. The map itself is a tool of power, defining territories and legitimizing claims. Philips' print, with its visual codes and cultural references, is therefore a window into the 18th century's understanding of the world. To understand this image better, we might delve into the history of Dutch cartography or study the popular imagery of the Ottoman Empire. The print highlights how art is always embedded in a specific time and place, shaped by social, political, and institutional forces.