Titelprent met gezicht op het huis van de eerste president van het parlement 1652

This is an engraving titled ‘Titelprent met gezicht op het huis van de eerste president van het parlement’, made by Israel Silvestre in the 17th century. The print presents a formal architectural scene dominated by horizontal lines and balanced symmetry. Silvestre’s composition is structured around the building's facade, divided into distinct spatial arrangements. The use of linear perspective draws the eye into the scene, yet this is somewhat disrupted by the figures populating the courtyard, who introduce a contrasting element of scale and human presence. The building itself can be viewed as a signifier of power. The architectonic style and symmetry implies the values of the era, of order, and rationalism. This engraving is not just a depiction, but an engagement with ideas about representation, space, and cultural identity. The work invites us to reflect on the dialogue between art and cultural values.