Kaart van een deel van het verloop van de Rijn, de Waal en de Maas 1629 - 1649

This is an anonymous map of part of the course of the Rhine, Waal, and Maas rivers, a detailed engraving of considerable size. The structure of the map invites an immediate comparison between the two sections, one above the other, creating a sense of geographical and temporal juxtaposition. The visual language here is quite fascinating; notice the use of lines, not just as borders but as fluid representations of the rivers themselves, their meandering courses dictating the composition. Each line and curve seems to represent a point of data. The text and symbols aren’t merely informative but are meticulously placed, contributing to the overall density and texture of the map. In essence, this map operates on a semiotic level, where each element functions as a sign, contributing to the overall narrative of space, place, and perhaps, power. It invites us to think about how we understand and represent our world and suggests that even in cartography, the subjective and interpretive are ever-present.