Koninklijke waardigheid c. 1585 - 1590

Philips Galle created this print, "Koninklijke Waardigheid," whose date is unknown, using engraving techniques. The composition centers on a regal figure, her form elongated, dressed in ornate garments, and flanked by an eagle. The meticulous hatching and cross-hatching define textures and volume, giving the figure a tangible presence. The figure's attire is rich in detail, from the intricate patterns of her robe to the delicate feathers of the eagle, all meticulously rendered. Note the linear quality, a deliberate aesthetic choice which flattens depth and directs our gaze across the ornamental surfaces. Galle uses line and form not to imitate reality, but to construct a symbolic order. Considered within a semiotic framework, the figure and her avian companion act as signs, gesturing to the idea of "Majestas" or Majesty. Yet the stylized representation of majesty destabilizes any fixed notion, as Galle uses the visual language to question, rather than confirm, the values of royalty. The print serves as a site where power is not simply represented, but actively negotiated and re-imagined through form.