Aesthetic Aspects of Early Maps - Advances in Cartography and GIScience - page 62

E. Imhof (1967) focuses on the fact that it is the decoration and figurative
representation (of all elements) that add to the artistic nature of early maps
( Figure 6 ) .
Figure 6 : Example of decorative compositional elements in Comenius' Map of Moravia
(1627)
Firstly, it is the frame (bordering) of the map field that determines the final
visage of the map. As K. Kuchař (1974) says in early maps it was not sup-
posed to give material impression, the maps of the Czech lands were
carved (wood or metal) with flex cracking.
The title and the legend are other compositional elements that can be sub-
ject to heavy decoration ( Figure 7 ). In many cases the titles have the form
of vignettes (the header as an ornamental motif) and they contain various
cartouches (ornamental framing). We can see titles in the form of architec-
tonic details of buildings, open books, curtains or canvas, animal skins,
etc. The cartouches are also used for map legends.