Portret van Filips III 1809 - 1868

Vittore Pedretti created this portrait of Filips III using burin. The portrait speaks to the enduring power of monarchy in the cultural imagination. It's interesting to consider how images of rulers function to solidify and legitimize power, especially within the context of 19th-century Europe, a time of revolutionary change and the rise of nationalism. Pedretti renders Filips III with the traditional trappings of royalty: the crown, the ornate robes, and the sword, all symbols designed to convey authority and divine right. But what does it mean to look back at images of power from the past? How do we reconcile the historical weight of colonialism and feudalism with our contemporary values? This portrait prompts us to question not only the narratives we inherit but also how we choose to represent history itself. How do we deal with the emotional weight of these images? How can we use this history to build new systems?