Koning Artaxerxes III 1547 - 1585

This engraving, titled 'Koning Artaxerxes III', resides in the Rijksmuseum, though the artist remains anonymous. The print presents us with a commanding figure, Artaxerxes, rendered through a network of fine, precise lines. The composition is structured to emphasize Artaxerxes' dominance. He strides forward, sword aloft, a symbol of authority and power. The artist uses scale to reinforce this, dwarfing the figures in the background, which includes a city and group of soldiers. The lines create texture and volume, particularly in the rendering of fabric and musculature. The cloak drapes with heavy folds, creating a play of light and shadow that adds depth. The landscape behind him, with its carefully etched hills and buildings, provides a stage for this imposing figure, highlighting a tension between the figure and the architecture. The use of line not only defines form but also conveys a sense of narrative, suggesting conflict and conquest. The engraving's formal qualities, with their emphasis on power and narrative, offer a window into historical perceptions of leadership and authority. The artist's technical skill and the deliberate composition invite us to consider the structures of power and representation within the work and its historical context.