Titelpagina voor een Bijbel 1746

Pieter Tanjé created this title page for a Bible, rendered in delicate lines and subtle gradations. The composition arranges figures and text in a balanced but dynamic manner, drawing the eye across a symbolic tableau. The symmetrical placement of figures around the central text block creates a sense of classical order, yet this is disrupted by the asymmetry of the figures' poses. Note the figure on the right, standing over a globe, in contrast to the nurturing maternal figure on the left. This deliberate imbalance hints at the tensions between divine authority and earthly concerns. Tanjé employs a semiotic system, using recognizable cultural codes to convey complex ideas. The classical allusions invite us to interpret the work not just as a religious statement, but as a commentary on knowledge, power, and the human condition. The artwork embodies how cultural and philosophical ideas can be communicated through carefully constructed visual forms.