Karel VI en Filips V ondertekenen het Verdrag van Wenen 1727

Leonard Schenk’s engraving depicts Charles VI and Philip V signing the Treaty of Vienna. Notice how Schenk uses linear precision to define every detail, from the ornate drapery to the patterned floor, creating a scene bustling with diplomatic formality. The composition is structured to emphasize the act of signing, with a clear division between the standing figures and the seated officials. The artist's use of hatching and cross-hatching is not just for shading, it adds depth and texture to the figures, making them appear almost sculptural against the flat backdrop. It’s as if Schenk uses line work as a form of visual rhetoric, reinforcing the power and gravity of this historical moment. The calculated arrangement of elements within the frame serves to elevate the ordinary to the symbolic, marking the event as a significant cultural artifact. The meticulous detailing compels us to consider how such visual constructions contribute to the broader narratives of power and diplomacy.