Table 20
1828
Think of this as the 19th-century version of a physics simulation, rendered in ink. Francesco Cardinali’s 1828 engraving maps the chaotic behavior of water—crashing over weirs and swirling into vortices—using precise, elegant lines. Rooted in the Neoclassical desire for order, this scientific illustration turns splashing currents into geometry. The bottom row of perfect spirals looks almost like a decorative wallpaper pattern, showing how the study of fluid dynamics can accidentally create abstract art.
- Technique
- Engraving
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