Aankomst van de hertog van Alva te Brussel, 1567 1567 - 1570

Frans Hogenberg's engraving captures the arrival of the Duke of Alva in Brussels in 1567. The dominant symbol here is the procession itself, a motif of power and authority. We see the Duke, surrounded by soldiers, moving through the city. This procession echoes triumphal entries of Roman emperors, a visual language adopted by rulers throughout history to assert dominance. Consider how such displays, from ancient Rome to Renaissance pageantry, serve as powerful expressions of control, engaging viewers on a visceral level through the sheer spectacle of organized might. But what of the dog in the foreground? A symbol of loyalty, yes, but also perhaps of the hunt, of pursuit. This juxtaposition of loyalty and potential aggression subtly hints at the complex psychological landscape of power, where devotion and the threat of force are intertwined. The recurring presence of such processions throughout art history reveals our collective fascination with power dynamics, a fascination that continues to resonate in our subconscious. This image becomes a potent reminder of how symbols evolve, adapt, and resurface across time, reflecting the ever-shifting currents of human experience.