Dubbelportret van Albrecht, aartshertog van Oostenrijk en Isabella van Spanje before 1614

This engraving of Archduke Albrecht of Austria and Isabella of Spain was made by Karel van Sichem, around the year 1600. It’s a formal double portrait, designed to project power and status. The visual codes here are clear. Albrecht holds a spear and sword, symbols of authority, while both figures are adorned with elaborate clothing and jewelry that emphasize their wealth and nobility. Note how their clothing and jewelry allude to the Habsburg dynasty's vast territories. The image was produced at a time when the Habsburgs were deeply concerned with solidifying their claim to power in the Netherlands, at a time when this was anything but certain. To understand the artwork, you could consult sources about the history of the Habsburg dynasty and the political culture of the Netherlands. It serves as a potent reminder that art is not made in a vacuum, but is always contingent on social and institutional contexts.