Gezicht op het paleis van Karel VI te Lissabon 1694 - 1737

Pieter van den Berge created this print of the Palace of Charles VI in Lisbon. Notice how the architectural mass of the palace dominates the composition. The palace is depicted with a rigid symmetry, its repetitive windows creating a grid-like pattern that suggests order and control. The receding perspective draws our eyes towards the background where ships float serenely, contrasting with the pomp and circumstance of the royal court in the foreground. This deliberate arrangement invites us to consider how power is both displayed and constructed within the context of the European monarchies. Consider also the function of this print as part of a broader visual culture. It both reflects and reinforces ideas about sovereignty, authority, and spectacle. Its semiotic language speaks to the era's complex social and political structures.