Karel V, Duits keizer, ontvangt de sleutels van de poorten en de roede van justitie van Utrecht 1787 - 1789

Jacobus Buys made this drawing of Karel V receiving the keys to Utrecht using pen and grey ink, and grey wash. The drawing depicts a moment of submission, rich with political and social meaning. Karel V, Holy Roman Emperor, is offered the keys and rod of justice, symbols of Utrecht's fealty. Made in the late 18th century, this artwork looks back to the 16th century and the consolidation of power under the Habsburgs. Such imagery was often used by political leaders to justify social hierarchy. Buys, however, also worked for Enlightenment publications that promoted civic virtue and critiqued absolutism. Was Buys merely illustrating a historical event, or was he commenting on contemporary power structures? To fully understand this artwork, historians might research emblem books, political treatises, and the history of Utrecht. We can then begin to see how art actively participates in the negotiation of social and political norms.