Illustratie voor 'Den Arbeid van Mars' van Allain Manesson Mallet 1672

This illustration for 'Den Arbeid van Mars' was made by Romeyn de Hooghe in the late 17th or early 18th century. It is an engraving. The schematic diagrams with their angular calculations command our attention, yet the landscape scene at the bottom hints at a practical application. The composition is divided, with geometric forms occupying the upper registers and a naturalistic scene the lower. This contrast creates a dialogue between abstract theory and empirical observation. De Hooghe’s use of line is precise, almost clinical, in the diagrams, while in the landscape, it is more suggestive, evoking depth and atmosphere. The semiotic system here blends scientific notation with pastoral imagery. It challenges the separation of art and science. Consider how the arrangement of these elements invites us to question the relationship between knowledge and the world. This is a visual treatise on how we perceive, measure, and ultimately, master our environment.