Adgillis I, vijfde koning der Friezen 1618 - 1620

Curator: This engraving, dating from the early 17th century, depicts Adgillis I, the fifth king of the Frisians. Pieter Feddes van Harlingen is credited with its creation between 1618 and 1620. Editor: It’s stark. The fine lines and lack of shading give it a raw, almost unfinished quality. And the king… there’s a strange tension between his regal attire and the rather bleak landscape he inhabits. Curator: Exactly! The northern-renaissance engraving style gives us a window into how historical figures were constructed and perceived during this period. Adgillis wasn't just a king; he was a symbol of Frisian identity and heritage being actively shaped through imagery and text in a time of political change and nation-building. Note how the image presents not just the individual, but reinforces a political vision. Editor: Yes, look at how the composition divides itself almost rigidly; the heraldic shield balances the foliage, creating a symmetry which emphasizes his status but somehow boxes him in, hemmed in by cultural symbols on both sides. He almost looks trapped by the details surrounding him. Curator: And the choice of engraving itself plays a key role. Printmaking democratized imagery, allowing for widespread dissemination of these constructed identities and histories, further cementing Adgillis’ place in the Frisian narrative. Its form gives it a lasting power in influencing public imagination. Editor: The materiality, this very print, becomes a carrier of ideas. The crown atop his head and the staff – symbols we intuitively recognise even today – convey status immediately. His pose, his surroundings – these elements shape a complex story of power, even if its delivery seems a little bit naïve by today’s standards. It emphasizes the narrative over painterly expressiveness. Curator: Right! It encourages us to investigate the ways in which historical narratives are packaged and disseminated, contributing not only to historical consciousness but also to our contemporary cultural landscape, shaping current identities. Editor: This artwork feels like more than a picture of a king; it is the framework from which the very notion of this monarch grew. It shows how symbols create power and sustain the stories of that power for us all, for centuries to come.