Paleisplein te Lissabon 1694 - 1737

Pieter van den Berge made this print of the Paleisplein in Lisbon, using etching and engraving, common reproductive techniques of the 17th and 18th centuries. The print's material qualities are crucial to understanding its social context. Its lines are precise, delineating the architecture of power and the organized spectacle of the event. The scene captures a public celebration outside the Royal Palace, likely a bullfight, judging by the text below the image. Note how the tiers of spectators are carefully arranged, reflecting a rigid social hierarchy with the elite prominently displayed. The very act of creating and distributing this print speaks to a burgeoning culture of consumption. By producing an easily reproducible image, Van den Berge tapped into a market eager for glimpses of royal life and exotic locales. The print transforms a unique event into a commodity, reflecting early capitalism's ability to package and sell experiences, reinforcing social structures through its depiction of power and order.