Parlement onder Lodewijk XIII / Ceremoniële intocht van de koning in Parijs, 1661 (?) 1650 - 1750

This engraving by J. Smit depicts the ceremonial entry of King Louis XIII into Paris. It’s an orchestrated performance of power, most evident in the King himself as the embodiment of the State. Consider the formal procession, a motif that stretches back to ancient Rome and beyond. Here, it's not merely a parade; it's a ritual reaffirming social order. The king, elevated on a throne, is a direct descendant of the Roman emperors, a visual echo of their triumphs and authority. The throne itself is a potent symbol, a seat of power that carries centuries of cultural weight. From the pharaohs of Egypt to the emperors of Byzantium, the throne signifies divine right and supreme authority. These forms persist because they tap into something primal within us, a deep-seated psychological need for order and hierarchy. It is this collective memory that charges these images with such enduring power, engaging viewers across time in a silent, subconscious dialogue. And so, the performance unfolds, echoing through the corridors of time, and resurfacing in new contexts, each time layered with accumulated history and meaning.