Ruiterportret van Willem III, prins van Oranje c. 1700 - 1732

Arnoud van Halen created this portrait of Willem III, Prince of Orange, using etching techniques on paper. The composition is dominated by the figure of Willem III, confidently mounted on horseback, the diagonal line of the horse creates a sense of dynamic movement. Observe how the use of light and shadow defines the textures of Willem’s armour and the horse’s musculature. Consider the formal structure of the image and the semiotic system which is operating. The portrait employs a system of signs of status and authority, a conventional mode of representation intended to convey power. Yet, this is destabilized by the inclusion of a Black servant. Ultimately, this etching presents a complex interplay of power, representation, and cultural codes, inviting us to question the fixed meanings of status and identity.