Portret van Jan II, koning van Frankrijk 1598

This is a print of Jan II, King of France, made by Jost Amman in the late 16th century. Prints like this one played a crucial role in shaping historical memory and political identity in early modern Europe. Look at how Amman combines the portrait of the king with scenes from his life, framed by elaborate decorative elements. In its time, this combination of text and image was a powerful way to disseminate information and propaganda. The print presents Jan II as a noble and powerful ruler. Prints were often commissioned by rulers or political factions to promote a particular view of history, emphasizing certain events while downplaying others. As art historians we can look to other sources, such as archival documents, letters, and chronicles, to understand the full context in which this print was made and the messages it was intended to convey.