Daniël voor koning Nebukadnessar 1585

Johannes or Lucas van Doetechum created this engraving, "Daniel before King Nebuchadnezzar," an intricate play of linear perspective and architectural detail. The scene, dominated by the king enthroned under a canopy, is balanced by the figure of Daniel in the foreground, creating a dialogue across the pictorial space. The architectural rendering, with its receding arches and tiled floors, crafts a sense of depth that draws the eye into the composition. Light and shadow are employed not merely to define form but to create a visual rhythm across the surface. The semiotic significance of these elements lies in their capacity to evoke the grandeur of the Babylonian court and the tension between divine prophecy and royal power. Consider how the spatial arrangement subtly undermines a straightforward reading of power dynamics. The strict lines of the architecture and the controlled distribution of figures serve as a powerful reminder that meaning is not simply represented but actively constructed through formal devices.