"Facade af den Illuminations Decoration som Banqven i Kiøbenhavn ved Børsen har ladet opreise i Anledning af Høystsalig Kong Friderich den V Liig Procession" 1766

This print was created by Johannes Gottfred Bradt around 1766. The stark contrast between the detailed white facade and the dark background immediately draws the eye. The rigorous symmetry and classical architectural elements create a sense of solemnity. Bradt uses line and form to construct a commemorative structure typical of its time. The facade, erected by the Copenhagen Stock Exchange for King Frederick V's funeral procession, is articulated with neoclassical motifs. Note how the inscriptions, sculptural reliefs, and the king’s portrait encircled by a radiant halo create a structured narrative. The composition isn’t merely decorative, it is designed to convey specific messages about power, memory, and the state. This is achieved through the careful arrangement of symbolic elements, inviting us to consider how public grief was staged and represented in 18th-century Denmark. The print itself becomes a semiotic structure.