Portretten van de koningen Salomo en Rechabeam Possibly 1610 - 1654

This is an engraving of Kings Solomon and Rehoboam, made by an anonymous artist. The composition is structured around two oval portraits, each king framed within a decorative border. Solomon, on the left, and Rehoboam on the right, each portrait sits above blocks of text. The artist uses contrasting visual elements to distinguish the two kings. Solomon is depicted with softer lines, and his garment decorated in a repeating design. Rehoboam, however, is portrayed with harsher lines, wearing armor. These visual choices emphasize their different characters as described in the adjacent texts. Solomon represents wisdom and peace, while Rehoboam embodies strife and folly. This engraving is not just a historical depiction but functions as a semiotic device, using visual cues and the structural juxtaposition of the two figures to convey a moral lesson about the consequences of wisdom versus folly. The artwork’s structure thus reinforces a didactic purpose, inviting viewers to interpret the kings' contrasting attributes within a larger framework of religious and ethical values.