Portret van Béatrix Cusance, hertogin van Lorraine 1644 - 1692

This is a print of Béatrix Cusance, Duchess of Lorraine, made in the late 17th century by Peter Dannoot. Cusance was a powerful figure in the high society of the time. Yet we can see how printmaking allowed her image, and therefore her influence, to circulate far more widely. The portrait presents her as an ideal of feminine beauty and aristocratic status. Visual codes, such as the elaborate jewelry and the fashionable hairstyle, emphasize her wealth and nobility. The surrounding inscription praises the engraver's skill in capturing her beauty, reflecting the cultural importance of portraiture in commemorating and celebrating individuals. In a society governed by strict social hierarchies, images like these served to reinforce existing power structures. They also held the potential to challenge social norms, circulating new ideas and artistic styles more broadly through society. To fully understand the cultural and political role of prints like this, scholars consult a range of sources, from aristocratic memoirs to records of printmakers' workshops.