Portret van George III van het Verenigd Koninkrijk 1755

Bernard Baron created this engraving of George III of Great Britain sometime before his death in 1762. Consider the historical and cultural context of this piece. The print invokes a vision of royal authority against a backdrop of maritime power. Yet, this projection of power is complicated by the presence of a kneeling figure offering up a crown. This act of submission suggests a narrative of conquest, a powerful visual reminder of the reach of British colonial ambitions and its associated injustices. The image is emotionally complex; while it projects power and authority, it also subtly acknowledges the cost of empire. It compels us to reflect on whose histories are valorized in traditional representations of power and whose are obscured. This work encourages us to consider alternative narratives—those of the colonized and marginalized—to fully understand the implications of such displays of dominance.