Portret van Willem, graaf van Nassau-Siegen 1630

Willem Hondius produced this print of Willem, Count of Nassau-Siegen, around 1680 in the Netherlands. The portrait presents us with a man of obvious wealth and status, signified through the finery of his clothing and the confidence of his pose. But these are visual codes to be decoded. The lettering surrounding the image tells us he was governor of the cities of Heusden and Mosa, as well as commander of the armies in the duchies of Cleves, Monten, and Mark. This image, then, is as much about political and military power as it is about the individual. We should remember that the Dutch Golden Age was a period defined by a struggle for independence. Nassau-Siegen was an important figure in that struggle. To understand this image fully, we might consult archives, letters, and political pamphlets, all of which would have a bearing on the social context and the cultural meaning of this portrait.