Schaalstok met passer en wapenschild van Moravië 1572 - 1575

This small, undated print by an anonymous artist features a composition dominated by geometric forms and symbolic emblems. At first glance, the stark lines and detailed engravings present a curious blend of precision and heraldic tradition. The image is structured around a large triangle, defined by what appears to be a drafting compass. Within this frame, the Moravian coat of arms, depicted with a double-headed eagle, adds a layer of historical and regional identity. Below, a grid of numbered boxes suggests a system of measurement or categorization, hinting at the intersection of cartography and governance. The triangular shape creates a visual hierarchy with the crest at its apex, reflecting established power structures. The careful arrangement, however, is not merely decorative; it functions as a system of signs. The compass points to the rationality of geographic measurement, while the crest alludes to the authority of the Moravian region. The artist thus crafts a representation in which form and content unite to convey knowledge. It is a site of continual interpretation that destabilizes fixed notions of space, identity, and representation.