Portret van Filips VI, koning van Frankrijk 1642 - 1678

Nicolas de Larmessin the First created this engraving of Philip VI, King of France, in the 17th century. Engravings such as this one played a crucial role in shaping public perception and collective memory during the early modern period. This portrait presents Philip VI, who ruled France in the 14th century, according to the visual codes of 17th-century French Monarchy. The elaborate frame, royal garments and heraldic symbols are not an accurate depiction of Philip's era, but rather a symbolic reference to the power and grandeur of the French crown in Larmessin’s time. The presence of text further emphasizes the role of the portrait as a historical document but also as a political statement. It is in pieces like this one that we can start to comprehend the politics of imagery and the institutional framework surrounding artistic production. By consulting historical sources, such as royal archives, and contemporary publications, we can understand the complex interplay between art, power, and social memory.