Penning met buste van Maria-Theresia van Spanje 1702

Gérard Edelinck created this engraving, "Penning met buste van Maria-Theresia van Spanje," its date currently unspecified. Notice how the composition is tightly structured within the circular boundary of the coin. The profile bust of Maria-Theresia is rendered with meticulous detail. Edelinck's expert use of line and texture creates a sense of depth and volume. Her regal bearing is emphasized by the formal arrangement of the inscription which frames her image. Coins like this operated within a complex semiotic system. They signify power, legitimacy, and historical narrative. The very act of depicting a ruler on currency serves to reinforce their authority and perpetuate their image through circulation. The precision of Edelinck's engraving, the detailed rendering of Maria-Theresia’s features, and the carefully arranged inscription all work together to project an image of unwavering authority. Consider this as a kind of structural language.