Schoorsteen met figuren van Overwinning en Overvloed before 1732

This is an anonymous print titled "Chimney with figures of Victory and Abundance". The composition is dominated by an intricate depiction of a chimney, framed by heavy drapes, which creates a theatrical backdrop. The central oval frame, adorned with foliage, contains a bust, flanked by classical figures representing Victory and Abundance. Notice how the stark lines of the chimney contrast with the flowing, organic forms of the drapes and figures. This juxtaposition plays with notions of order and chaos, control and freedom. The symmetry in the piece suggests a structured, hierarchical world, yet the decorative excesses hint at a subversion of pure rationality. What are we to make of the bust figure placed in this scene? Is it a celebration of virtue? How are we to consider the semiotic codes of power and abundance in this world? The tension between the classical ideals represented and the elaborate ornamentation invites us to question fixed meanings and consider the instability of such constructs.