Penning met buste van Lodewijk XIV 1702

This is Gérard Edelinck’s engraving of Louis XIV, the ‘Sun King’. The design’s circular format and the use of line, shape, and text all contribute to the overall meaning of power and authority. The portrait is encased in a circle, reminiscent of a coin or medal, emphasizing Louis XIV's regal status. Edelinck uses a profile view, a common artistic choice to portray rulers as dignified and timeless. The texture of Louis XIV’s hair is achieved through fine, detailed lines that create volume and movement, contrasting with the smoother lines that define his facial features. This contrast draws our attention to the King's elaborate wig, a status symbol of the era. The text around the portrait, "LUDOVICUS XIII REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS", employs a semiotic system of signs in which the King's name and title are symbols of his divine right to rule. The arrangement of text and image within the circle presents a structured and ordered view of power, suggesting the King’s control over his image and, by extension, his kingdom. The use of line in the engraving not only defines the form but also reinforces the ideas of structure and hierarchy central to Louis XIV's reign.