Luchtballon van de heer Augustin, 1806 1806

This print, dating from 1806 and made by an anonymous artist, presents a vision of human flight through the image of a hot air balloon. The artwork deploys a fascinating combination of vertical composition and structural forms. The balloon, rendered in alternating stripes of red, yellow, and green, dominates the upper half of the image. This visually arresting sphere is tethered to a fragile basket below, marked with Dutch flags and the vague outline of a figure. The text beneath the image lauds the 'young Augustyn' for his daring feat, yet it also hints at the seemingly absurd nature of such an endeavor. The overall effect is a playful yet poignant reflection on human ambition, where geometric order meets the unruly forces of nature and the limits of human potential. It is a statement that art does not have a singular, unchanging meaning but is a site of ongoing interpretation and re-interpretation.