Koning David 1546 - 1624

Curator: Right, let's have a look at this print. This engraving, "Koning David," is attributed to Christoffel van Sichem I, placing its creation sometime between 1546 and 1624. It resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Well, hello, King David! He looks rather… unkempt, doesn’t he? And not exactly pleased. A severe ruler, I imagine? Is he meant to be intimidating? Curator: It's interesting you say that. Considering the prevailing socio-political climates then, imagery had to do more than simply "look good". David was a hugely significant figure, seen to have combined kingly and religious power. Sichem had to navigate what symbols of status and authority were acceptable. Editor: I see that seriousness in his gaze now, weighted, maybe burdened, by that authority. The crown feels… less majestic and more like it's weighing his head down, a little like an unwanted party hat. And the staff or scepter, so prominent, is presented more like a burdensome tool. The overall affect somehow makes him seem both grand and rather lonely, wouldn't you agree? Curator: That’s a very modern reading, but, yes, David had immense influence through different, often clashing factions and ideologies, which definitely informed artistic representations like this. You have to understand there was this constant balancing act in showcasing royal power and maintaining accessibility among citizens. Editor: It’s amazing how artists managed to convey these very complicated nuances even through an old engraving. Makes you wonder how our times will be read! I keep looking at his hair – wildly drawn! He had definitely had a hard life, but now his image remains eternal, constantly re-interpreted for people of different times. Curator: Precisely! Each piece really tells not just a visual story, but a story of shifting perceptions, power plays and cultural dialogues and reinterpretations! Editor: That it does. Thanks for making me see King David a little differently today!