Slaapkamer van de koning van Tuban, 1599 1600s - 1610s

This engraving, "Slaapkamer van de koning van Tuban," made in 1599 by an anonymous artist, depicts the king's bedchamber, a place where sleep, a universal experience, intertwines with power and ritual. Notice the hanging bells above the bed, their symbolism harkens back to ancient practices of marking time and transitions, their sound is meant to ward off evil spirits. The ritual surrounding the king, suggested by figures in the foreground, echoes the ancient traditions of divine kingship. Such rituals evoke a sense of protection and continuity. The prone figure of the king in repose carries echoes of effigies on sarcophagi from ancient civilizations. Sleep itself, a moment of vulnerability, is staged with careful symbolism of power, tapping into a shared understanding of mortality and the human condition. This image, through its symbols, transcends its specific time and place, connecting to a broader, timeless narrative of power, protection, and the human experience.