Blad D: zesde en zevende praalwagen, 1767 1767

Lieven Wouters's etching from 1767, titled "Blad D: zesde en zevende praalwagen," showcases a series of meticulously detailed allegorical floats. The floats are presented with striking symmetry against a stark background, each vignette offering an exuberant display of baroque ornamentation. The lines are delicate yet pronounced, meticulously defining the elaborate structures and the human figures populating them. Each float, laden with symbolic figures, draws the eye through its complex design, a testament to the era’s love for grandeur and detail. What strikes one immediately is the structural complexity—the way Wouters balances the density of detail with the overall composition. The allegorical nature of the floats invites a semiotic reading, where each figure and element signifies broader cultural values and ideals. The artist presents power and majesty through symbolic representation.