General Hans Løwenhielm 1689

Hubert Schaten created this print of General Hans Løwenhielm in 1682. Note how the visual codes of wealth and power are interwoven. Portraits like these reinforced social hierarchies and celebrated the power of the Danish elite. Looking at the sitter’s armor, wig, and lace cravat, we can see the markers of status in late 17th-century Denmark. The inscription that encircles him and the coat-of-arms further serve to confirm his noble identity. Prints like these were often commissioned by the sitter to promote themselves or their family, and they were distributed among friends, family, and political allies. Museums and galleries are now the institutions that preserve and display such images, shaping the way we understand the past. To understand these images, we can consult historical documents, genealogical records, and studies of costume and fashion. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.