Geometrische figuur die toont dat de reikwijdte van een blik vijftig graden is 1679

This engraving by Sébastien Leclerc I, dating back to the 17th or early 18th century, employs a precise, linear style to dissect the act of seeing. Above a landscape rendered with delicate hatching, Leclerc imposes a geometric framework. Lines converge and diverge from point A, delineating the presumed scope of vision at fifty degrees. The semi-circle and angular lines create a rational schema that contrasts with the organic forms of the landscape below, which includes buildings and mountains. Leclerc’s use of geometry isn't just representational; it's an epistemological claim. It reflects a period fascinated by the reduction of sensory experience to mathematical principles. By framing the visual field within a set of precise angles, Leclerc imposes a sense of order and measurability on something as subjective as sight. This engraving prompts us to consider how even the most natural acts are mediated by systems of representation.