Rozetten 1857 - 1859

Here we see a study of rosettes by Pierre Cuypers, rendered in delicate pencil on paper. The composition is strikingly simple, featuring six circular designs arranged with a methodical precision that invites us to consider the underlying structure governing their creation. The top left rosette, fully realized, showcases a symmetrical arrangement of stylized leaves radiating from a central geometric form. The remaining five sketches present variations on this theme, each revealing the process of abstraction and refinement. Cuypers strips the designs back to their foundational elements, exposing the geometric scaffolding upon which the floral motifs are constructed. The semiotic implication of the rosette motif cannot be ignored. The rosette often symbolizes unity, perfection, and cyclical time, and its geometric structure emphasizes these themes, aligning with structuralist ideas about underlying systems. Note the circular structure of the design itself, which challenges the idea of fixed meaning, inviting endless interpretation.