Titelprent van een serie over de zeven planeten after 1585

This engraving, "Titelprent van een serie over de zeven planeten", was created by Jan (II) Collaert around 1600 using engraving techniques. Note how the composition consists of an oval frame encircling text, and figures representing the planets are placed around the perimeter. The texture of the engraving medium adds depth, and the figures, rendered in a classical style, exude a sense of idealized beauty and intellectual authority. The figures within the composition are not merely decorative; they function as signifiers within a semiotic system. Each planet is personified by a deity, reflecting the Renaissance fascination with classical mythology and astrology. The placement of these figures around the central text suggests an ordering of the cosmos, inviting viewers to decode the relationships between the planets and their corresponding attributes. The formal arrangement creates a harmonious balance, but it also destabilizes conventional hierarchical structures. The even distribution of figures challenges fixed meanings, prompting viewers to contemplate the interconnectedness of cosmic forces.