Marine, sympathie en soevereine majesteit 1768 - 1771

This is Charles Beurlier’s print, made using etching. The cool grey tones create a formal, almost architectural atmosphere, softened by the dense textures of the eagle’s feathers, the draping garlands, and palm fronds. The composition arranges symbolic elements in a hierarchical order, with maritime power depicted at the base, followed by sympathy, and sovereign majesty. This layering suggests a system of values, but the lack of conventional perspective destabilizes any fixed interpretation. The images within the circles act as signs, their meanings dependent on cultural codes and context. The obelisk-like structure topped with an eagle merges classical and natural motifs, but these forms are not seamlessly integrated. There is a tension, even a clash, between the geometric and the organic, the ancient and the contemporary. Perhaps, Beurlier challenges us to reconsider traditional hierarchies and to question established meanings, prompting us to look beyond the surface of representation.