Dwarsdoorsnede van het Palazzo Spinola te Genua 1622

Nicolaes Ryckmans created this cross-section of the Palazzo Spinola in Genoa using pen and ink. The structure reveals a symmetrical, layered composition, each level defined by horizontal lines and punctuated by vertical elements of doors and windows. Ryckmans' architectural drawing meticulously orders space through geometric precision and repetition. The façade is dissected to expose the interior, thereby challenging traditional perspective. We are invited to consider the relationship between exterior presentation and interior life. This destabilization of spatial norms can be seen as a commentary on the nature of representation itself. Here, Ryckmans employs a semiotic system where each line and shape functions as a sign, indicating not just architectural form but also social and cultural meanings embedded within the building's design. Notice how the rigorous arrangement of the elements leads us to appreciate the deeper structural principles at play. This intersection of form and meaning allows for ongoing interpretations of how we perceive space, power, and representation through architecture.