Blad met diverse diersoorten 1733

This is 'Blad met diverse diersoorten', an etching made by Jan Caspar Philips in the 18th century. The landscape scene is meticulously composed with animals placed across the foreground. The animals, each carefully rendered, are set against a backdrop that recedes into the distance, indicated by the varying line density used to create texture. This provides a sense of depth, though somewhat flattened. Philips’ rigorous approach to form is evident in the detailed rendering of each creature, from the scaly hide of the crocodile to the feathered body of the large bird, each meticulously described with delicate line work. The structured composition, in which each animal is carefully placed, mirrors the broader Enlightenment project of cataloging and understanding the natural world. Philips invites us to not only observe but also to classify and comprehend, underscoring the era’s quest for rational order and scientific knowledge.