Coronation Scene 1629

Abraham Bloemaert, a Dutch artist who lived from 1564 to 1651, created this “Coronation Scene” painting. Bloemaert worked during a time when the Dutch Republic was solidifying its identity, navigating complex issues of power, religion, and societal order. Notice the central figure who is being crowned, his armor, and the people kneeling before him. Bloemaert seems to want to represent the divine right of power, but who gets to decide this power? The artist sets up a stage of gendered and racialized gazes, where the crowned male figure is at the center of it. The artist uses vibrant color and dramatic staging. He asks us to reflect on the performance of power, and perhaps even prompts us to consider who is included, and, more importantly, who is excluded from the narratives of authority. This artwork serves as a visual prompt to delve deeper into how power and identity are intertwined.