Twee mannen knielen voor een koning 1522

This woodcut, titled 'Two Men Kneeling Before a King,' was created by an anonymous artist. Though undated, the print depicts a scene laden with the visual codes of power and supplication. Here, we find ourselves confronted with an age-old tableau of hierarchical relationships. Two men kneel, their bodies bent in deference before a figure of authority. The king stands tall, a symbol of power, while the posture of the kneeling men speaks to the dynamics of class and social standing. We are invited to consider how identity is performed and negotiated in spaces of power. The setting, with armed figures in the background, alludes to themes of protection and dominion. This artwork reflects on the emotional weight of inequality and the personal narratives shaped by broader social structures. It prompts us to reflect on how our own identities are situated within these complex networks of power.