Titelpagina voor de Europische Mercurius van 1728 1728

This is the title page for the Europische Mercurius of 1728, made by an anonymous artist. The entire image is meticulously etched, filled with figures and symbols that demand our attention. The composition is structured around a central stone block, bearing the journal's title. The angel of fame trumpets from above, while allegorical figures surround the base, some writing, others building. Observe how the artist uses these figures to frame the text, creating layers of meaning. The act of building, of writing, suggests the construction of knowledge, the ongoing process of shaping understanding. Note the deliberate placement and postures: are they meant to convey order or a destabilization of traditional hierarchies? This engraving functions not merely as a title page but as a complex visual statement about the power of knowledge and its dissemination in the world. The artist prompts us to continually re-evaluate what we think we know.