Childerik I, Filips VI en Lodewijk XI 1620 - 1664

This small print of Childerik I, Philips VI, and Lodewijk XI was made by Stefano della Bella sometime in the 17th century. The copper engraving presents three figures arranged in a triangular composition, their identities clearly labeled below. Bella's use of line is particularly striking. Notice how he employs a dense network of fine, cross-hatched lines to model the figures and their garments, creating a sense of volume and texture despite the print's diminutive scale. Each figure is rendered with meticulous detail, from the elaborate folds of their robes to the individual hairs of their beards. This attention to detail invites close scrutiny, drawing us into the intricate world Bella has created. The text accompanying each portrait offers a concise character assessment, a kind of semiotic shorthand that invites us to decode each ruler’s legacy through both visual and textual cues. In this way, Bella challenges us to actively engage with the print, interpreting its symbols and deciphering its underlying message. The act of interpretation becomes a dynamic process.