Portret van keizer Constantijn VI met zijn moeder keizerin Irene 1557 - 1559

This engraving depicts Emperor Constantine VI and his mother, Empress Irene. We see them centered in what looks like a coin. The most striking symbol is the cross they hold jointly, emblematic of their temporal power but also of divine authority. The orb held by Constantine, a smaller sphere, symbolizes earthly dominion. Consider how the motif of the orb has traversed time. From the Roman emperors holding globes, signifying their universal rule, to medieval and Renaissance monarchs adopting it as a symbol of Christian sovereignty, it undergoes a fascinating metamorphosis. Thinkers like Freud might argue that such symbols tap into our collective unconscious, evoking primal feelings of power and control. The composition—the shared holding of the cross—suggests a partnership, yet the historical context reveals a power struggle, as Irene later deposed and blinded her son. This image then, becomes a potent symbol of the complex interplay between power, religion, and family—a drama played out on the stage of history, echoing through the corridors of our minds.