Personificaties van zeevaart, aardrijkskunde, sterrenkunde en wiskunde om een globe 1755 - 1800

Harmanus Vinkeles created this print depicting the personifications of seafaring, geography, astronomy, and mathematics around a globe. The composition is structured by a central, towering globe, immediately drawing our eye. The figures are arranged in a semi-circle around this sphere, creating a sense of unity. Note how each figure interacts with the globe or a symbolic object. Here, we have the embodiment of knowledge and exploration. The globe is the tangible representation of Earth, but it’s also a signifier of human ambition, navigation, and discovery. The print functions as a sign system where the globe, the figures, and their attributes collectively signify the enlightenment era's pursuit of understanding and mapping the world. The female figures can also be interpreted as allegorical figures, or codes that convey abstract concepts. Consider how the artist employs line and form to create a sense of depth and perspective, inviting us to contemplate not just the artwork, but also the vastness of the world and the intricacies of knowledge it represents.