Christian V 1674

Curator: Here we have an engraving of Christian V, dating back to 1674, created by Willem van der Laegh. Editor: It immediately strikes me as…rigid. Imposing. Every element is orchestrated to convey power. Curator: Indeed. Let’s consider the formal aspects: the composition, for example, is highly symmetrical. The figure of Christian V sits enthroned beneath a heavy canopy, flanked by heraldic lions. Note the precise linework of the engraving. Editor: And what does that carefully constructed image communicate? Beyond a display of wealth, there's an assertion of divinely sanctioned rule, wouldn't you agree? He's positioned as the unassailable center. Curator: I concur. The symmetry reinforces that idea, as does his regalia. His crown and ermine robe function as clear signifiers of his station. One cannot overlook the lions. Notice their stylistic similarity and posture. Editor: Right, they seem more like symbolic guardians than actual animals. This isn't a naturalistic portrayal; it’s carefully coded, with the lions standing in as potent symbols of monarchy itself. Curator: Precisely! Van der Laegh masterfully uses the graphic medium to achieve this intended effect. Observe how the light and shadow articulate the king's presence, carving him out of the backdrop. It provides hierarchical order and reinforces his dominating role in Danish history. Editor: Well, looking at it from a modern vantage point, that deliberate staging makes me consider questions of accessibility, or rather the lack thereof, and how constructed images reinforce existing power structures. Who is outside those velvet ropes, excluded from that circle of power? Curator: Those are insightful reflections on how these historical visual languages still reverberate. I notice how this image is trying to communicate the stability and authority that Christian V strived for. Editor: Indeed, while dissecting its form provides access into the work, understanding its historical situation grants perspective on its true message. The king’s world on view is highly constructed. Curator: An incisive view. Together, we uncover this print’s formal construction and what its subject aimed to symbolize.