Register van afbeeldingen uit het Oude Testament 1791

This is "Register van afbeeldingen uit het Oude Testament," made by Johannes de Groot II in the late 17th or early 18th century. It is an example of a print on paper, presenting a table of figures from the Old Testament. The bilateral symmetry splits the table into two columns of Dutch and French. The composition uses contrasting fonts to signal different textual functions, such as headings and descriptions. A semiotic analysis reveals the ordering of text and language reflecting specific cultural and intellectual codes of the time. The rigid grid-like arrangement speaks to an era concerned with systematization. Despite its seemingly straightforward presentation, the register's structure destabilizes any singular reading. It invites comparative analysis across languages, questioning fixed meanings. The piece functions as a matrix of potential interpretations, emphasizing the fluidity inherent in textual representation and cross-linguistic exchange. This reflects a broader philosophical engagement with how language shapes and mediates understanding.