Figuren met kaarten bij een globe en nautische instrumenten 1700

Johannes van Keulen created this print, "Figuren met kaarten bij een globe en nautische instrumenten," using etching techniques. The composition is divided into distinct registers. At the top, we see an ethereal scene with celestial figures floating amidst clouds. Below, a group of men gather around a globe, poring over maps and nautical instruments. The contrast between the elevated realm and the terrestrial focus of the figures below introduces a visual tension. This division explores the relationship between abstract knowledge and practical application. The globe and maps signify systems of representation used to understand the physical world. Here, cartography becomes a form of encoding power. Van Keulen has created a visual discourse that reflects how knowledge and navigation intersect with cultural and philosophical thought. The piece destabilizes fixed notions of geography, emphasizing how mapping is not just about charting territories, but also about constructing knowledge.