Portret van Albrecht, aartshertog van Oostenrijk 1610 - 1655

Sebastian Furck produced this print of Albrecht, Archduke of Austria, sometime in the first half of the 17th century. The image offers us a window into the construction of power and identity in the Habsburg Netherlands. We see Albrecht, ruler of the Spanish Netherlands, framed by an oval border bearing his titles. Albrecht’s dress and accoutrements visually communicate his status. The elaborate ruff, the chain with the pendant of the Golden Fleece, and the armor all signify power and authority. Below the portrait, a Latin inscription speaks of the limitations of art to capture Albrecht’s true essence and virtue. Such printed portraits served to disseminate the image of the ruler, reinforcing his authority amongst his subjects. To understand this image better, we can turn to a number of resources. By examining inventories, letters, and other archival material, we can learn about the circulation of such images and their reception amongst different social groups. Through such historical analysis, we can better grasp the complex interplay between art, power, and society in the early modern period.