Laenas trekt een cirkel in het zand rond Antiochus IV Epiphanes 1752 - 1819

Around 1770, Jurriaan Andriessen created this drawing, “Laenas Draws a Circle in the Sand Around Antiochus IV Epiphanes,” using pen and gray ink. The figures are rendered with a neoclassical precision, yet it is the circle at their feet that anchors the composition, drawing us into the symbolic heart of the scene. This isn't just a depiction of an event; it's a study in power dynamics and spatial semiotics. Andriessen uses the circle as a visual and conceptual boundary, a space of negotiation and confrontation. The characters are caught in a spatial dilemma that highlights the tension between Roman authority and Antiochus' defiance. The circle, in this context, becomes a stage for a power play, a battle of wills framed by the seemingly simple act of drawing a line. It emphasizes that the meaning of a space is not just where one is, but also the actions that unfold within it.