Portret van Karel III van Bourbon 1549 - 1575

This is an engraving portraying Charles III of Bourbon. The ornamentation around the portrait is not mere decoration; it speaks to the cultural memory embedded in forms. Consider the fur-lined coat, a powerful symbol of status and authority. Trace its visual lineage back to ancient rulers draped in animal skins, emblems of strength and dominion. This motif transcends time, reappearing in various guises, each era imbuing it with new significance while subtly echoing the past. Think, for example, of royal portraits across centuries, where fur cloaks signify power, or even in modern-day fashion, where the subconscious allure of primal authority persists. Such symbols resonate on a profound level, tapping into our collective, subconscious understanding of power, and reminding us that images are never truly new but rather echoes of what came before.