Vignet og initial til Frederik V's Søkrigsartikelsbrev 1754 - 1758

Odvardt Helmoldt de Lode created this undated vignette and initial for Frederik V's Søkrigsartikelsbrev using engraving. De Lode lived in an era shaped by European power struggles and naval competition. The image includes an interesting mix of symbols and imagery, it encapsulates the complex relationship between power, identity, and maritime authority. A crowned lion sits atop a cannon, a Danish flag waving behind it, and a nude figure is on the right. What do we make of the choice to show the figure unclothed? What does the figure represent? By employing symbolism, the artist engages with themes of national pride, military might, and perhaps the complex role of the individual within a larger, state-sanctioned framework. These symbols are not static; they are actively shaping and reflecting Denmark’s evolving identity.