Droom van Skanderbegs moeder 1533

This small, undated print attributed to an anonymous artist depicts the dream of Skanderbeg’s mother. The scene captures a woman, presumably Skanderbeg’s mother, asleep in a lavish bedchamber, her dreams materializing above her as a vision of a city with a double-headed eagle soaring overhead. The print invites us to consider the cultural and political context in which the legend of Skanderbeg, the Albanian national hero, was constructed. Skanderbeg resisted Ottoman expansion in the 15th century. This imagery, likely produced later and elsewhere, draws upon and reinforces the mythology surrounding him. The dream sequence, a common trope in historical narratives, suggests divine favor and foreshadows Skanderbeg's future greatness. The eagle, a symbol of power and freedom, reinforces this narrative. By examining such imagery alongside historical texts and cultural artifacts, we can better understand the social and political functions of art. The image serves as a potent reminder of the ongoing relevance of national myths and historical narratives in shaping collective identity and political discourse.