Portret van Albrecht, aartshertog van Oostenrijk 1662

This engraving of Archduke Albert of Austria was made by Cornelis Meyssens, likely in the mid-17th century. As a print, it was designed for wide distribution, and we should consider it as a piece of political communication. Albert was Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands, a region encompassing parts of modern-day Belgium and the Netherlands. The image presents him as a dignified and powerful ruler; his clothing and the chain of office denote status, while the Latin text below emphasizes his lineage and connections to the Holy Roman Emperor. The inclusion of his coat-of-arms reinforces the power of his dynastic position. We might ask what purpose this image served. Was it intended to reinforce Albert’s authority in a region marked by religious and political conflict? Was it a tool for consolidating power amid the Dutch Revolt? By examining the print’s original context, we can better understand the role of art in shaping political identities and social order. Examining records relating to the Habsburgs' administration of the Netherlands may reveal how this image was disseminated.