Frederik III kroont zichzelf 1791

Editor: So, this engraving is "Frederik III crowning himself," made by Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki in 1791. It seems like such a formal, almost staged moment, and yet, there’s something slightly absurd about a king crowning himself. What do you make of it? Curator: Ah, yes, a king crowning himself! It's dripping with the *theatricality* of power, isn't it? Chodowiecki captured not just the historical moment, but the self-conscious *performance* of sovereignty. I wonder if, on some level, he was also suggesting the fragile nature of power—how it depends on *perception*, on creating a convincing image for the audience. Can you almost sense the tightrope he is on, carefully placing that crown. It is like an internal journey… the moment when the artist meets… I don’t know… divinity. It almost feels spiritual. Editor: Fragile? In a piece about a king's coronation? I see the pageantry, but fragile is not a word that springs to mind! Curator: But think of the context! The Baroque style loves its drama, yes, but also, consider the era. Power struggles, shifting alliances… This print was made almost a century after the event itself! Do you not imagine the *distance* in Chodowiecki’s artistic memory and historical commentary? Does that perspective change your view a little? Editor: Hmm, interesting point. So, it's not just a record, it's also an interpretation *with hindsight*. I guess I see a new layer now, thanks. I wonder, what the King himself would have thought! Curator: Ah, if only portraits could talk!