Erik Menved 1646

This anonymous engraving depicts Erik Menved, the King of Denmark, and it compels us to consider the structural elements that construct both the image and the idea of monarchy itself. The portrait is framed by an oval border, inscribed with text, setting a boundary between the subject and the world. Within this defined space, the king is presented in profile, adorned with symbols of power – a crown and a sword. The artist uses hatching and cross-hatching to create depth and shadow, giving form to the king's features and clothing. Note how the sword cuts across the frame, suggesting a disruption or assertion of power beyond the pictorial space. The very structure of the engraving, with its careful lines and deliberate composition, mirrors the rigid hierarchies and constructed narratives that define royal authority. It invites us to reflect on how images themselves function as tools to legitimize and perpetuate systems of power.