Portret van Willem III, prins van Oranje 1688 - 1711

This is Pieter Schenk's portrait of Willem III, Prince of Orange, made in the late 17th or early 18th century. It is a monochromatic print whose composition and visual elements evoke a sense of power and formality. The use of light and shadow creates a dramatic effect, highlighting the texture of the armor and the opulence of the royal garments. Schenk employs line and texture to convey the details of William's attire and the regalia of his office, using visual rhetoric to communicate ideas about sovereignty, divine right and the prevailing social hierarchies. The structure of the portrait, with its emphasis on symmetry and balance, reflects the ordered worldview of the period. It is a world where visual and social structures reinforce each other. However, we must acknowledge that the cultural meanings that were originally invested in this image have been subject to constant re-evaluation.