Joan Blaeu (1596–1673) was a leading Dutch cartographer and publisher, born in Alkmaar and the son of Willem Blaeu, a famed mapmaker. He succeeded his father as the official cartographer of the Dutch East India Company in 1638. Blaeu was renowned for his elaborate atlases and maps, including the monumental “Atlas Maior,” published in 1662, which featured 11 volumes with nearly 600 beautifully engraved maps. His maps were known for their scientific accuracy, artistry, and detailed decorative elements such as cartouches and vignettes.
Blaeu’s work incorporated recent geographical discoveries and cosmological knowledge, such as the heliocentric model. He was a prominent figure in Amsterdam’s cartographic and civic communities, serving on the city council. Blaeu’s atlases became status symbols for their size, beauty, and cartographic innovation, leaving a lasting legacy in the history of cartography.
