De erfstrijd van de drie koningszonen 1500 - 1503

This is “The battle for inheritance between the three royal sons,” an engraving made by the artist known as Monogrammist MZ. It depicts a brutal scene of conflict and succession, reflecting the political instability of its time, probably the mid-16th century. The image creates meaning through the visual codes of power and vulnerability. We see lavishly dressed figures, perhaps representing the sons, alongside an archer and other attendants. The one on horseback is poised with a crown which he’s about to give to the kneeling figure, but to the left, a bound and tortured man may represent another contender, or the state of the kingdom after the battle. Northern Europe during this period was marked by dynastic struggles and religious conflict. Artists responded by creating images that subtly critiqued or supported the existing social order, playing a crucial role in shaping public opinion. Art historians use archival records, political documents, and religious texts to understand the social context of such works. Recognizing that art is not created in a vacuum, but is deeply embedded in specific times and places.