Ottokar II knielt voor koning Rudolf I van Habsburg 1795

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki created this print, Ottokar II Kneeling Before King Rudolf I of Habsburg. The print is divided into two scenes, each meticulously detailed with fine lines and textures, that evoke a sense of drama and historical weight. In the left scene, the interior is framed by Gothic arches and heavy drapery which contrast with the central figures of the king and the kneeling duke. The composition emphasizes the power dynamic through the positioning of figures on different levels, where the king looks down with a slight, knowing smile, while the duke is in a position of submission. In the right scene, an external military scene unfolds with regimented lines of soldiers. The orderly arrangement of troops contrasts the apparent chaos of strewn wooden beams, introducing a semiotic interplay between order and potential disorder, peace and potential conflict. These contrasting elements of submission and control, interior power and exterior threat, invite the viewer to question the stability of hierarchies and the nature of historical narratives.