Penning met Lodewijk XIV 1718

Curator: Looking at this intricate print from 1718, titled "Penning met Lodewijk XIV," created by Bernard Picart, you're seeing a kind of Baroque flourish commemorating the reign of Louis XIV, found here at the Rijksmuseum. It's executed with such fine lines. Editor: It's incredibly delicate work. Immediately, I feel transported to another time – the sheer number of minuscule details creates this fascinating texture. What a powerful face framed by all that cascading hair. It reminds me how portraits once acted as political instruments, meant to impress above all else. Curator: Precisely. It's a pen and ink engraving mimicking the form of a coin or medal, common for celebrating rulers. Notice the split composition: the regal portrait on one side and a more staged, symbolic scene on the other. Editor: That second scene definitely pulls the viewer in. You've got these tiny figures arranged with such formal grandeur; are they receiving someone of significance, or presenting a petition, maybe? The symbolism, even though intricate, feels somehow opaque to our modern eyes. It’s as though meaning is being carefully withheld or deliberately layered. Curator: Iconography can certainly be a tricky mistress! That particular scene likely represents a key event during Louis's reign—the Latin inscription offers clues, pointing to a ceremony, a recognition, or a major diplomatic engagement. All carefully orchestrated to solidify his image. It is titled "Hispanorum Excusatio", related to the excuses of the Spanish people before Louis XIV. Editor: Knowing that clarifies it slightly, though the opulence and formality remain front and center. It does invite a consideration about power: both the authority it represents and the image it demands. You feel how important symbolism was in forging alliances and bolstering one's standing at court. This object offers itself not only as a commemoration, but also as propaganda of sorts. Curator: Definitely! Propaganda delivered with panache and flair! Reflecting on Picart's print, what stands out to me is that intersection of artistic skill, historical documentation, and pure, unadulterated royal PR. Editor: Yes, seeing how meticulously Picart wove image, symbolism, and the power of presentation certainly brings the Sun King's era and its elaborate cultural language to life. An age of image consciousness avant la lettre!