Robert de Sterke uitgeroepen tot graaf van Anjou 1776

Pierre Jean Baptiste Bradel created this print, "Robert de Sterke uitgeroepen tot graaf van Anjou," using etching and engraving techniques. The composition is structured by a celestial hierarchy, as figures ascend into clouds toward a divine light. Bradel uses line and form to articulate allegorical figures, creating a structured hierarchy. Observe how the composition is split into earthly and divine realms, each populated with figures that embody power and legacy. The interplay between shadow and light enhances the ethereal quality of the upper register. The print's formal arrangement can be interpreted through the lens of semiotics; each figure and symbol acting as a signifier, contributing to the narrative of Robert's ascent and legitimization. The swirling clouds and radiant light are not just aesthetic choices, but function as visual metaphors for divine approval and historical significance. The print thus invites us to consider how visual forms are used to convey power and shape historical memory.