Begrafenisstoet van aartshertog Albrecht (plaat XVII), 1622 1623

This is Cornelis Galle I's 1622 engraving, "Funeral Procession of Archduke Albrecht," now at the Rijksmuseum. The composition is strikingly linear. Galle has arranged figures in a rigid horizontal frieze, emphasizing flatness. The use of line dominates, defining the draped forms and faces with precision. Light and shadow create tonal variation within a limited grayscale, giving each figure depth and a somber presence. The print’s formal structure underscores its function: to document and classify. The uniformity in dress flattens the individual and elevates the symbolic role of the group. The rigid composition suppresses movement which suggests a fixed social order. The text above acts as a label, reinforcing the artwork's documentary intention. The print suggests a semiotic system, where clothing and arrangement signify status and function. Yet, the starkness of the presentation and the repetition of form evoke a sense of solemnity and the weight of tradition. The artwork’s power lies in its capacity to both record and evoke, inviting contemplation on the structures that govern social and cultural life.