Gezicht op het monument voor Frederik Willem I van Pruisen, te Koszalin 1740 - 1774

Here we see an engraving of the monument to Frederick William I of Prussia in Koszalin. The anonymous artist presents a rigid, symmetrical composition, dominated by linear perspective and geometric forms. The monument, centrally positioned, anchors the composition and is surrounded by the ordered architecture of the town square. The artist uses hatching and cross-hatching to create tonal variations, giving volume to the buildings and figures, however, this is not an attempt at realism but a formal exercise in representation. Each element – the buildings, the statues, and the figures populating the square – appears as a discrete entity. They all contribute to a larger, unified design. This work reflects the Enlightenment's emphasis on order and reason. It translates into the formal arrangement of the artwork and offers a structured and rational view of the world, in which every component contributes to the overall harmony and intelligibility.