Kaart van het Hoogheemraadschap van de Krimpenerwaard (vijfde deel van kaart) 1683

Editor: So, this is a section of the "Kaart van het Hoogheemraadschap van de Krimpenerwaard," from 1683, made by Johannes Leupenius. It’s a print – an etching and engraving, I believe. It strikes me as incredibly precise, almost obsessively so. It makes me wonder – what sort of world produces something so meticulously mapped out? What stands out to you? Curator: Ah, yes! Obsessive, but isn't that the heart of the Dutch Golden Age, really? A feverish desire to capture, to categorize, to, in a way, *own* the world around them. Look at how they've meticulously delineated each little plot of land. It's not just a map; it's a statement of control. Canals cutting through like arteries – the lifeblood of their economy. Makes you wonder about who gets included, and what is conveniently left out. The almost clinical detachment makes it feel powerful, right? Editor: Absolutely! It’s like the landscape is being dissected, but with a strange sort of pride. It’s both beautiful and unnerving. All those little subdivisions, meticulously named... Curator: Indeed! It's tempting to see the past reflected in the present; do you see a bit of that pride in the hyper-organized Dutch landscapes even today? What I mean to say is, you're looking at history being etched, not just onto paper, but into the land itself. Perhaps art mimics the urge for spatial planning and order as an instrument to exercise dominion. Editor: Wow, I never thought about it like that. It really does put the artwork into perspective. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure, consider also what isn't displayed. I hope that my perspective has been valuable.