Strijd te Frankfurt om de Duitse keizerskroon, 1742 1742

This anonymous etching from 1742, housed in the Rijksmuseum, depicts the struggle for the German imperial crown in Frankfurt. Rendered in stark black and white, the composition is sharply divided between the chaotic interior scene and dense text below. The upper half plunges us into a world of sharp lines and dramatic action. Figures clash with swords under the gaze of a figure in bed, all rendered with nervous, energetic strokes. The lines are rough, and the shading is minimal, creating a sense of urgency and instability. This frenetic energy contrasts sharply with the rigid lines of the text beneath, which is neatly ordered in tight columns. The contrast between the visual and textual elements raises questions about representation and interpretation. Is the struggle depicted above a literal portrayal, or a symbolic representation filtered through the artist’s perspective? The inclusion of text invites us to consider the relationship between image and language, and how they shape our understanding of historical events. The composition doesn’t offer a singular, stable meaning, but rather an invitation to actively engage with its multiple layers of representation.