Willem den 1ste 

This pen drawing, "Willem den 1ste," was created by Willem I, King of the Netherlands. The off-white paper is dominated by the sweeping curves of calligraphic script. Note how the lines vary in thickness, creating a rhythm across the surface. The words themselves are signs. The artist uses a semiotic system to convey both a name and titles – Willem den 1ste, King of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau. There's also the isolated signature, presented within a rectangle, adding another layer to this construction of identity. Consider how the handwriting embodies personal authority. The king’s choice of script is not merely functional but a performative act that creates a public persona. The artwork highlights how power can be expressed through symbolic forms. Notice that each viewer may interpret differently the aesthetic and historical context of the sign-making, and it's that ambiguity which keeps the artwork alive.