King Louis XIII of France and Anne of Austria c. 1629

This print by Cornelis van Dalen I portrays King Louis XIII of France and Anne of Austria. It speaks volumes about the dynamics of power and representation in the 17th century. Notice how Louis is clad in armor, a symbol of his military and political authority, while Anne is adorned with pearls, signifying her role in dynastic succession and negotiation. The backdrop features a distant cityscape, perhaps alluding to their dominion and the prosperity of their reign. But let's consider the complexities. Anne of Austria was a Spanish Habsburg, and her marriage to Louis was meant to cement peace between France and Spain. Yet, their union was fraught with political intrigue and personal struggles, reflective of the broader tensions between these nations. Van Dalen’s print invites us to reflect on the performance of identity and the weight of expectation placed upon those in positions of power, and in particular, the women who bore the weight of succession.