Eerste blad van de voorrede met engelen en initiaal 1700

This is the first page of the foreword by Gilliam van der Gouwen, likely made in the early 18th century in the Netherlands using engraving. At the top, we see a vibrant image of angels surrounding an open book, ushering us into a world of divine knowledge. Below, the text begins under an ornate initial letter depicting figures who seem to dance around the letterform. In this era, religious texts were central to cultural identity, functioning as a moral compass. The use of angels, common in Christian iconography, invokes themes of innocence and purity, while the dancing figures in the initial evoke classical imagery. The act of reading itself was imbued with profound cultural and spiritual significance, offering a path to understanding the self and one's place in the cosmos. How does engaging with sacred texts shape identity? How do we navigate the duality between earthly existence and the promise of transcendence? This page is more than just an introduction; it is an invitation to contemplate the intersection of faith, reason, and human existence.