Stadsgezicht met Domkerk te Utrecht en allegorie met Minerva en deugden c. 1681 - 1746

This etching by François van Bleyswijck presents a cityscape of Utrecht framed by allegorical figures. The detailed lines and composition invite us to decode its symbolic structure. The upper register shows the Domkerk of Utrecht as the focal point, rendered with meticulous architectural detail. This cityscape is arched by figures of Minerva and other virtues, who signify wisdom and moral excellence. The entire scene is visually supported by a base filled with classical figures. Each element is carefully placed to construct a visual hierarchy that guides our reading of the image. We can interpret the cityscape as a signifier of civic pride and the virtues as symbols of an ideal society. The artist employs semiotic codes to communicate a vision of order and moral values, essential to 18th-century Dutch society. Note the balance between realism and allegory. This interplay suggests that the city's physical space and its societal values are intertwined. This formal arrangement encourages us to reflect on the relationship between space, morality, and the ideal city.