Maria en Christus, Rechtvaardigheid en Geloof 1607

This undated print, "Maria en Christus, Rechtvaardigheid en Geloof," is composed with detailed engraving to create intricate patterns. The symmetry of the composition is immediately striking. Notice how the central text, framed by an ornate cartouche, dominates the visual field. Above, allegorical figures of Justice, Faith, and cherubic forms create a semi-circular tableau, which is structurally balanced by figures on either side of the text panel. Each element contributes to a complex semiotic system, where figures, text, and ornamental motifs converge. The linear precision and density, creating sharp contrasts of light and shadow, guide the eye through a narrative hierarchy—from the divine to the earthly. The choice to overlay religious and allegorical figures around the text, traditionally separate spheres, challenges established meanings and invites reinterpretation. The structured layout of the text itself also reflects a world of order. This artwork, through its formal qualities, thus functions as part of a larger philosophical discourse that explores human and divine knowledge.