Portret van Willem IV, prins van Oranje-Nassau 1747 - 1752

David Coster created this print of Willem IV, Prince of Orange-Nassau, using engraving techniques. During the 18th century, the House of Orange-Nassau was central to the political and social landscape of the Dutch Republic, embodying power and authority. This portrait, with its formal composition and meticulous detail, reinforces Willem IV’s position as a Stadtholder, Captain General and Admiral. It is a visualization of political authority, designed to circulate an image of power. Consider what it meant to represent someone of such high standing, not just as an individual, but as a symbol of dynastic power. How does this image shape or solidify his identity within the complex political environment of the time? The inscription translates as William Karel Hendrik Friso, Prince of Orange and Nassau, Stadtholder, Captain General, and Admiral of the Seven Provinces of the United Netherlands. Ultimately, this portrait reflects the intertwined relationship between personal identity, political power, and the visual strategies used to communicate and preserve authority in the 18th century.