De ambassadeurs bij de bisschop en Doge van Venetië 1660 - 1736

Domenico Rossetti etched this print, ‘The Ambassadors to the Bishop and Doge of Venice,’ sometime between 1650 and 1736. We see an exchange of power and respect through the Venetian symbols of civic and religious authority. Note the gestures, particularly the act of kneeling or bowing, deeply rooted in the human psyche, signifying submission, reverence, or supplication. This motif appears across cultures and epochs, from ancient Egyptian depictions of pharaohs receiving tribute to medieval Christian art showing devotion to the Virgin Mary. Consider the recurring theme of prostration before authority—a primal act driven by both fear and aspiration. The powerful hold this image has is born from our collective memory and ingrained social hierarchies, tapping into subconscious drives for dominance and submission. The Doge seated high on his throne evokes deep seated associations between power and its performance. This cyclical resurgence and reinvention of symbols reminds us that images are never truly static. They are living entities, shaped by historical forces and individual experiences.