Deel van de optocht, nr. 9 1559 - 1619

This engraving, “Deel van de optocht, nr. 9,” was created by Joannes van Doetechum around the late 16th century. Notice how the composition unfolds with a frieze-like quality, presenting figures and a horse in a procession, each meticulously detailed yet somewhat flattened against the neutral background. The artist orchestrates our gaze using line and form. Observe the verticality of the flagstaff held by one of the figures, which anchors the center of the composition. The figures are distinguished by their elaborate costumes and dignified bearing, and each element, from the folds of the drapery to the horse's decorative trappings, is rendered with careful precision. Consider how the arrangement of figures, combined with the heraldic symbols, functions as a carefully constructed visual language. Doetechum presents us not merely with a scene, but a symbolic representation of power and status. It remains an open question how we interpret the cultural codes which may have informed the work's making and reception.