Kaart van het dijkgraafschap van de Vier Noorder Koggen (deel rechtsonder) - Hendrik de Leth

A detailed eighteenth-century Dutch map section featuring topographical data of the Vier Noorder Koggen alongside classical allegorical figures.

This print represents the lower-right section of a larger cartographic work by Hendrik de Leth, a Dutch engraver and publisher active in the mid-eighteenth century. The composition functions as a hybrid, merging technical geographical data with allegorical imagery. The upper-left portion displays a precise survey of the Vier Noorder Koggen, a historic water board district in North Holland. The map details the layout of polders, dykes, and settlements, reflecting the Dutch preoccupation with land reclamation and water management.

The lower-right section transitions into a pastoral and mythological scene. A seated female figure, representing the fertility of the land, is surrounded by agricultural symbols, including a plough and livestock. In the water, figures reminiscent of Neptune and sea deities emerge, acknowledging the constant threat and proximity of the sea to these reclaimed lands. Above, a cloud-borne figure observes the scene, adding a layer of classical iconography common in the cartography of the period.

De Leth utilised fine line work to distinguish between the rigid, geometric lines of the map and the fluid, organic forms of the allegorical figures. The contrast between the scientific survey and the decorative, mythological framing provides insight into how eighteenth-century Dutch society perceived its relationship with the environment. The print serves as a record of both the physical infrastructure of the region and the cultural values attached to agricultural prosperity and maritime control. This museum-grade reproduction captures the precision of the original copperplate engraving, preserving the clarity of the topographical labels alongside the detailed shading of the allegorical figures.