Allegorie op de installatie van Ernst Casimir, graaf van Nassau, tot stadhouder van Friesland, 1620 by Pieter Feddes van Harlingen

Allegorie op de installatie van Ernst Casimir, graaf van Nassau, tot stadhouder van Friesland, 1620 1621

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mechanical pen drawing

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pen illustration

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pencil sketch

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old engraving style

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personal sketchbook

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pen-ink sketch

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pen work

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sketchbook drawing

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storyboard and sketchbook work

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sketchbook art

Dimensions: height 424 mm, width 574 mm

Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain

Curator: So, here we have "Allegory on the Installation of Ernst Casimir, Count of Nassau, as Stadtholder of Friesland, 1620," made in 1621 by Pieter Feddes van Harlingen. It's currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Oh my, it's intensely allegorical, isn't it? It feels like a stage production frozen in ink. Curator: Absolutely, the theatrical staging, typical of these celebratory prints, really conveys the gravitas of the occasion. There are layers upon layers of symbolism at work here. What imagery stands out to you? Editor: The little cherubs scattering… what is it? Coins, perhaps? It reminds me of classical representations of Fortune. Ernst Casimir, if I’m not mistaken, receiving… legitimacy? Power? From that gesture? Curator: Exactly, the showering coins symbolize prosperity under Ernst Casimir's rule. And he’s receiving the insignia of office, yes, but it is from the personification of Friesland. Editor: I see the provincial emblems all around: the flags, the costumes. It is very localized. It really illustrates how authority and identity get woven together in such ceremonies. It feels very much like controlled theater to make a statement. Curator: Very astute. The artist carefully controls every visual element, creating a coherent political statement that resonates far beyond that moment of investiture. And let’s note this mechanical pen drawing comes only a year after the actual ceremony – pretty agile response for a symbolic picture that involves an endorsement of an individual, Friesland’s leader. Editor: True. It's intriguing to see such elaborate propaganda in a medium we might associate more with personal sketches. Makes you think about the range and purposes of drawings during this era. I hadn’t considered that before. Curator: Indeed. Examining the iconography unlocks a richer historical understanding, providing a portal to understanding symbols through visual and cultural languages and shared knowledge, if we choose to see and consider such symbols, of course. Editor: Definitely! I keep imagining the event that this intends to recapture, while wondering how removed the image may be from what happened. Still, its a powerful historical, artistic document of the political theatrics, with fascinating artistry in this piece from Van Harlingen!

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