Gezicht op het Koninklijk Paleis te Madrid 1694 - 1737

Pieter van den Berge created this print of the Royal Palace in Madrid. It offers us a glimpse into the construction of royal power and the social order of the time. Made in the late 17th or early 18th century, the image presents the palace not just as a building, but as a symbol of authority. Perched high on a hill, the palace dominates the landscape, and, by extension, the people. The artist uses visual cues to underscore social hierarchies. Notice the leisurely figures in the foreground. Are they members of the court? Are they simply enjoying the view? The landscape itself, neatly ordered and cultivated, suggests control and dominion. To fully understand this print, we might turn to architectural histories, social studies of the Spanish court, and, of course, the vast archives of the Royal Palace itself. Art history, after all, isn't just about aesthetics; it's about understanding the complex interplay between art, power, and society.