Monument ter ere van de inhuldiging van Filips V als hertog van Lotharingen, 1702 1702

Jan Baptist Berterham created this print in 1702, it depicts a monument celebrating Philip V becoming Duke of Lorraine. The piece is a detailed engraving illustrating a multi-tiered structure adorned with flags, banners, and symbolic figures. Monuments like this were temporary installations that functioned as powerful displays of political theater. They were designed to impress upon the public the legitimacy and grandeur of a ruler, solidifying power through spectacle. Consider how the monument's design, with its classical architectural elements, was meant to evoke a sense of timeless authority and connect Philip V to a lineage of powerful rulers. There is also the overt display of flags and emblems. It’s a visual language of power, staking a claim to territory and identity, reminiscent of how nations use symbols to assert dominance. While the print memorializes a specific historical event, it also speaks to broader themes of power, identity, and representation. It prompts us to consider how such displays shape collective memory.