Portret van koning Filips II van Spanje c. 1669 - 1731

Pieter van Gunst created this portrait of King Philip II of Spain as an engraving. Notice the prominent display of the Spanish coat of arms. The eagle, the lions, and the fleur-de-lis are all emblems of power and dominion, announcing the reach and might of the Spanish Empire. The iconography of power, though, is an age-old idea. Think of Roman emperors depicted with eagles, symbols of Jupiter, or the lions guarding ancient Egyptian thrones. Here, the symbols are not mere decorations; they are visual mnemonics. These motifs serve as a constant reminder of the idealized image a ruler wishes to project. The image impresses upon the collective memory. What we see here is not just a portrait but an attempt to fix an identity within a larger cultural and historical narrative. These symbols, charged with historical weight, engage the viewer, stirring deep-seated emotions and unconscious associations that transcend the immediate context of the artwork. They appear, disappear, and then reappear, transformed but never entirely new.