Penning met buste van Filips V van Spanje 1702

This is Gérard Edelinck’s monochrome engraving of Philip V of Spain, created circa 1700. The circular composition focuses on a profile bust, framed by meticulously etched lettering around the perimeter. The lines are clean, with a deliberate contrast that gives shape to the figure. The formal arrangement here is more than just decorative. The inscription acts as a semiotic frame, defining the subject through language and imbuing the royal figure with an aura of authority. The execution is technically precise, yet the overall effect is to codify power through portraiture. Consider how the artist uses the circular format to contain and control the image, reinforcing the idea of a self-contained, sovereign world. This is not merely a likeness, but a study in the structural representation of power. It invites us to reflect on how symbols and forms can be used to shape meaning.