Karel VIII 1620 - 1664

This small engraving of Charles VIII, now at the Rijksmuseum, was made by Stefano della Bella. The scene presents us with the figure of the king on horseback, rendered in a remarkably delicate and intricate style. Note how the composition is divided into distinct zones. The upper section features the dynamic image of the king and his troops, while the lower part is dominated by text framed within an ornamental border. This division creates a tension between the visual and the textual elements. The etching technique, with its fine lines and cross-hatching, gives a sense of depth and texture, particularly in the rendering of the horse’s mane and the king’s armor. The linear quality emphasizes the graphic nature of the print. This work functions as both a historical record and a symbolic representation of power. The semiotic interplay between image and text invites us to interpret not just the literal depiction, but also the underlying structures of meaning and representation.