Bedelaar en koning 1672

Albert Flamen created this engraving, "Bedelaar en koning," sometime in the 17th century. At first glance, the figures are pressed together, almost merging, yet there's a jarring discordance in their embrace. The lines are sharp, creating a stark contrast between light and shadow that seems to heighten the tension. The figures are in the foreground, with a beggar and a king closely embracing, nearly kissing. This unusual scene is charged with questions about status, desire, and power. The inscription above reads "Non Bene Convenit" - "they do not agree". This artwork uses structural binaries only to subvert them: The beggar and the King, figures of extreme social difference, meet with a kiss! The act of kissing is a culturally coded signifier. Does the image function as a critique of social hierarchy, or is it an exploration of forbidden desires? Such an image does not settle on a fixed meaning, but rather opens up a space for questioning conventional norms.