Medal 1640 - 1707

This engraving of a medal depicting Louis XIV was crafted by Gérard Edelinck. Consider the weight of representation in Edelinck’s time. Louis XIV was not merely a man; he was a symbol of absolute power, divine right, and French cultural identity. The elaborate wig, the carefully sculpted profile, and the surrounding Latin inscription, all contribute to the construction of an image intended to inspire awe and obedience. However, let's also think about the cultural exchanges and power dynamics at play. Edelinck, though Flemish, became a leading engraver in the French court, navigating issues of national identity and artistic patronage. How does this medal reflect Louis XIV's desire to project an image of himself as a powerful and legitimate ruler, and how does it speak to the complex identities of those who created and circulated it? The medal serves not just as a portrait but as a carefully constructed symbol of authority, reflecting the intricate relationship between power, identity, and representation in the age of absolutism.