On the Thresholds of an Old Map

A Paracartographic Approach to Joost Jansz Bilhamer’s Caerte van Noorthollant

Authors

  • Anne-Rieke van Schaik
  • Bram Vannieuwenhuyze

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52476/trb.17720

Abstract

In what contexts were old maps made and used? What values did map users attach to documents like these, in their own time and afterwards? In this article we apply the ‘paracartographic approach’ to the edition of Joost Jansz Bilhamer’s Caerte van Noorthollant from 1608 to answer questions about the socio-cultural context, meaning and reception of old maps. First, we analyze the perimap (elements in the immediate surroundings of the map, e.g. cartouches, titles, legends) and then search for different forms of the epimap (elements outside the immediate surroundings of the map, e.g. reproductions, provenance notes, patents), among other things by studying contextual documentation about the production and consumption of the map. We explain the merits of the interpretation of the perimap and epimap and, thanks to the analysis, come up with a new hypothesis about the production and use of the map: as a means of promoting the Northern Quarter and West Friesland. With this case study we hope to expand and update knowledge of the Rijksmuseum’s cartographic collection and to encourage scholars, curators, collectors and map lovers to look beyond the spatial data old maps provide.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Anne-Rieke van Schaik

Anne-Rieke van Schaik is a PhD Candidate at the University of Amsterdam. She is a member of the Explokart research group.

Bram Vannieuwenhuyze

Bram Vannieuwenhuyze is professor by special appointment of Historical Cartography at the University of Amsterdam. He is one of the coordinators of the Explokart research group and project leader of Maps in Context.

Downloads

Published

2023-09-14

How to Cite

van Schaik, Anne-Rieke, and Bram Vannieuwenhuyze. 2023. “On the Thresholds of an Old Map : A Paracartographic Approach to Joost Jansz Bilhamer’s Caerte Van Noorthollant”. The Rijksmuseum Bulletin 71 (3):212-35. https://doi.org/10.52476/trb.17720.

Issue

Section

Articles