Proclamatie van Peter II Aleksejevitsj tot tsaar van Rusland 1727

Leonard Schenk created this print, "Proclamation of Peter II Alekseevich as Tsar of Russia," using engraving techniques. The composition is dominated by a central square bustling with figures, horses, and buildings. The dense arrangement creates a dynamic, almost chaotic scene, yet there's a clear spatial structure, which moves from the foreground towards the architectural backdrop. This linearity provides a perspectival depth, drawing the eye into the heart of the event. Schenk's use of line is precise and detailed, delineating each figure with clarity and precision. He juxtaposes the formal architecture with the organic forms of the crowd. What meaning can we draw from the dogs frolicking, the horses with riders, and the people celebrating? The event becomes a theatre set up for a new reign. This image shows a formal quality, a constructed reality to convey the sense of authority and to celebrate the symbolic importance of the historical moment.