De prins ontmoet de hertog van Grafton, 1688 1688 - 1689

This etching, “De prins ontmoet de hertog van Grafton, 1688,” was created by an anonymous artist and is currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Observe the stark lines and detailed hatching that shape this historical encounter. The composition is carefully structured; lines of soldiers and onlookers frame the central meeting, creating a dynamic yet ordered scene. The textures are evoked through the varying densities of line work. The artist uses a semiotic vocabulary to convey power and status. The elevated perspective, from which we view the procession, combined with the orderly arrangement of figures, conveys authority. Consider how the formal elements not only depict an event but also subtly reinforce a narrative of dominance and control. Ultimately, this print's enduring quality lies in its visual arrangement of forms, not merely depicting a meeting, but representing the very structure of power.