Standbeeld van koning Dagobert 1820 - 1859

This image is a print by François-Adolphe-Bruneau Audibran, depicting King Dagobert, likely made in the mid-19th century. The king is shown with his crown and scepter, symbols of sovereignty and authority. Consider the scepter, a potent symbol of power that echoes through time. We see it in the hands of pharaohs, emperors, and gods, each culture imbuing it with their own understanding of leadership. Think of Zeus with his thunderbolt, a scepter of divine power, or the Egyptian pharaohs, whose scepters symbolized their role as mediators between the gods and the people. Interestingly, the scepter also has psychological dimensions. It represents not only external authority but also internal strength and self-mastery. The act of holding the scepter can be seen as an assertion of control over oneself and one’s domain, resonating with our deep-seated desires for order and agency. The image of Dagobert with his scepter is a powerful reminder of how symbols persist, evolve, and resurface in our collective consciousness.