Vergadering te Orléans, 1561 1565 - 1573

Frans Hogenberg created this print, *Vergadering te Orléans, 1561*, which now resides in the Rijksmuseum. It depicts a historical moment charged with political and religious tension. The artwork transports us to a pivotal assembly during a time of conflict between Catholics and Protestants in France. Hogenberg, situates us in the center of power, within the meeting itself. The arrangement of figures, with the royalty at the highest point, underlines a rigid social hierarchy. Gender and class dynamics are visibly marked; the assembly is overwhelmingly male, which speaks volumes about who held power and whose voices mattered. Religious and political identities are at the heart of the discussions taking place. This image is not just a rendering of an event; it's a document reflecting a society in flux, grappling with questions of faith, authority, and identity. It offers a window into the complexities of a society on the brink of transformation.