Portret van Edward Seymour, hertog van Summerset c. 1669 - 1731

Pieter van Gunst created this print of Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset. It presents us with a puzzle as to the public role of art and the politics of imagery. Note how Edward Seymour is framed within an elaborate architectural structure, a symbol of status, power and the importance of institutions in maintaining social hierarchies. We can see how the Duke is consciously presented as a figure of authority, his status affirmed by the trappings of wealth, and the inscription below. The image creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. The print was made in the Netherlands, but the Duke of Somerset was an important figure in the English court of Henry VIII and Edward VI. By looking into the history of the Seymours and Tudor court politics, we might understand more about the context for this piece. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context and open to historical interpretation.