Portret van Leopold II, keizer van Duitsland 1783 - 1795

This print of Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor, was made by Reinier Vinkeles, probably in the late 18th century. Small prints like this one were often made as illustrations to be included in books, periodicals, and pamphlets. They circulated widely and served to create and reinforce notions of political power and social hierarchy. Here, the visual codes are clear: Leopold is depicted in profile, like an ancient Roman emperor, and he wears elaborate medals indicating his high status. Below his portrait, the imperial crown is framed by laurel wreaths, symbols of victory and triumph. What makes this image interesting to the social historian is how it reflects the institution of the monarchy itself. This was a period of revolution, when traditional forms of authority were being challenged. To understand the role of images like this one, we might look at periodicals from the period, or the records of printing houses, to see how images of the powerful were being circulated and consumed.