Portret van Filips II 1812 - 1869

Jacques Etienne Pannier created this portrait of Filips II in an undefined year using an engraving technique. The portrait strikes a formal balance, containing the figure of the King set against a lightly shaded background, all neatly confined within a border. This composition creates a sense of order, yet the King’s gaze slightly off-center adds a subtle tension, destabilizing the otherwise rigid structure. Note how Pannier uses line and shadow to convey the texture of Filips’ robe and the metallic quality of his crown and sword. These details are not merely decorative; they function as signifiers of power, status, and identity. This engraving invites us to consider how visual representations uphold societal structures, and how they challenge our perceptions of authority.