Gezicht op de binnenplaats van het Paleis van Karel V te Granada 1694 - 1737

Pieter van den Berge created this print of the courtyard of the Palace of Charles V in Granada. The architecture dominates with its circular form, creating a sense of enclosure and monumentality. The use of line is particularly striking here, delineating the structure of the palace and giving form to the arches, columns, and the figures populating the courtyard. The texture, achieved through fine hatching, adds depth to the architectural elements. The muted palette softens the grandeur of the scene. The print invites us to consider the relationship between architectural space and power. The rigid symmetry and ordered composition reflect a desire for control and rationality. The semiotic system embedded within the architecture – the columns, arches, and carefully placed figures – speaks to the codes of royal authority and social hierarchy. It is an exercise in representation, where the palace functions as a signifier of imperial dominance.