College van kardinalen, plaat 23 Possibly 1530 - 1699

This engraving, College van kardinalen, plaat 23, was created by Nicolaas Hogenberg around 1500. The eye is immediately drawn to the receding orthogonal lines of figures and horses, creating a sense of depth, as though we are witnessing a procession into the distance. Hogenberg uses line to delineate form, creating a semiotic system of signs. The cultural codes embedded within the artwork, such as the attire and the equestrian presentation, speak to the prevailing notions of power. Observe how the linear perspective, while guiding the eye into the pictorial space, serves to flatten the composition, almost like a tapestry. The uniformity of the figures, arranged in a structured manner, brings attention to the rhythm and pattern. These semiotic and structural elements invite us to consider how representations of power function within a larger societal framework, prompting an ongoing interpretation of art's role in mirroring and shaping cultural values.