Ruiters en vaandeldragers, plaat C 1530 - 1536

This is plate C of "Knights and Standard Bearers," an engraving by Nicolaas Hogenberg made around 1500. The artwork presents a procession dominated by riders on horseback and foot soldiers carrying flags, all rendered in meticulous detail. The composition emphasizes linear perspective and repetitive forms, creating a rhythmic pattern of figures and banners against a light background. Hogenberg’s strategic use of line and space not only directs the viewer’s eye through the scene but also reinforces the themes of order and hierarchy inherent in the military display. The engraver's emphasis on structure suggests an underlying semiotic system; each element, from the uniforms to the flags, acts as a signifier of status and allegiance. The artwork challenges fixed meanings by presenting a stylized rather than realistic depiction, inviting us to consider how representation shapes our understanding of power and ceremony. Hogenberg's formal arrangement serves a function within a broader discourse about the staging and interpretation of authority.