Portret van keizerin Amalia Wilhelmina 1687 - 1743

This engraving portrays Empress Amalia Wilhelmina, and was created by Johann Georg Mentzel. Note the oval frame, an ancient symbol of cyclical time and containment, evoking the perpetual dance of life and death. It recalls the 'hortus conclusus', or enclosed garden, a motif seen since medieval times to represent purity and the Virgin Mary, but also a safe vessel. Consider how this framework, here used for a ruler, connects with the 'mandorla', or almond-shaped aureola, frequently employed in religious art to surround divine figures. The curtain drawn behind the subject reminds us of the veils of antiquity, referencing concealed knowledge and ritual settings, thereby elevating the subject to near divinity. The symbolism here isn't linear, but cyclical, with the recurring motifs appearing, transforming, and resurfacing across centuries. Each symbol carries layers of collective memory, engaging with the viewer's subconscious and emotional understanding.