Ontvangst van aartshertog Maximiliaan in Toulon, 1855 1855

Jules Worms created this print in 1855, depicting Archduke Maximilian's arrival in Toulon. Dominating the scene, the rigid lines of soldiers stand alongside the towering clock tower, a symbol of time and order. Maximilian, on horseback, greets the throng of onlookers, embodying power. Consider the motif of the ruler on horseback: from ancient Roman emperors to Renaissance equestrian statues, this image signifies authority and control. But, power is a complicated thing. In ancient Rome, the horse symbolized not just power but also swiftness and virility, a connection lost with the development of more advanced tools of war. Over time, the iconography shifted. In the Renaissance, the rider on horseback became more about grace, intellect, and the divine right to rule. The collective memory and subconscious processes through which we interpret these symbols give them their power to engage viewers on a deep, subconscious level. The image of a ruler on horseback is a powerful, recurring symbol. It resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings across time.