De begrafenisstoet van Frederik Hendrik, plaat nr. 2 1651

Pieter Nolpe created this print, "De begrafenisstoet van Frederik Hendrik, plaat nr. 2," at an unknown date using an unspecified medium. Observe how the composition is dominated by horizontal lines, dividing the scene into distinct registers of sky, figures, and ground. The figures, rendered in somber blacks and greys, are grouped rhythmically across the pictorial space, creating a visual cadence. The artist uses a linear perspective that flattens the procession, emphasizing the collective rather than the individual. Consider the semiotic weight of the color palette: the overwhelming darkness of the attire speaks to mourning and solemnity, key to the event's character. However, the print is not just a record; it is an orchestration of signs, where each element—the grouping of figures, the use of color, and the calculated placement of the letter "D"—contributes to a structured narrative. The print’s formal qualities allow for the cultural encoding of death and succession, reminding us that artistic representation is never neutral but a deliberate construction of meaning.