Troonsafstand van Karel V, 1555 1782 - 1784

Simon Fokke created this print, *Troonsafstand van Karel V, 1555*, using etching techniques. The linear precision and the contrast between the hatched shadows and the stark whites, create a dramatic tension. The composition is structured around the receding lines of the architecture that draw the eye toward the background, but our focus is pulled forward by the figures in the foreground. This play of depth and perspective establishes a dynamic visual field. We see the influence of semiotics in the strategic arrangement of figures: each pose and interaction communicates power dynamics, and a sense of historical narrative. The visual order in Fokke's composition speaks to a broader cultural desire to codify and understand historical events through structured representation. Note how the lines create the illusion of depth but also flatten the image. This tension invites us to consider how historical 'truth' is constructed and represented.