Lodewijk XIV knielend bij kruis en doornenkroon 1666 - 1707

Here is the audio guide script about Gérard Edelinck's print, *Lodewijk XIV knielend bij kruis en doornenkroon*, at the Rijksmuseum. This engraving by Gérard Edelinck features Louis XIV kneeling in piety. Note how the composition contrasts earthly power with divine humility. Louis's figure is rendered with meticulous detail, from the rich fabric of his robe to the sorrowful expression on his face. Edelinck uses light and shadow to create a dramatic effect, drawing the viewer's eye to the cross and crown of thorns. The angels above, emerging from the clouds, introduce a semiotic system of religious iconography, contrasting worldly authority with spiritual submission. This work engages with questions of power, representation, and the moral dimensions of leadership. It destabilizes fixed meanings of royal authority by presenting the King in a posture of penance. Observe how the formal elements of the artwork function together. This print serves not only as a piece of devotional art but also as an exploration into the complexities of faith and power.