Portret van Karel II als kind met hond 1658 - 1677

Wallerant Vaillant created this mezzotint portrait of Charles II as a child with a dog sometime in the mid-17th century. Vaillant, a sought-after portraitist, captures the young royal in a manner befitting his status, yet also subtly complicates it. Consider the symbolism: dogs often represent loyalty and companionship. Here, the dog is almost Charles's equal in stature, hinting at the weighty expectations placed on the future king, even in childhood. The soft, almost vulnerable rendering of Charles’s face, contrasts with the rigid formality expected of royal portraiture. This tension speaks to the complex negotiation of identity, especially within the confines of inherited power and social expectation. Vaillant’s choice of mezzotint, a technique allowing for rich tonal gradations, adds a layer of emotional depth to the image. The artwork is more than a depiction of a child; it's a meditation on the burdens and privileges of identity, made visible through the tender gaze of the artist.