Riedsardus Elinus of Aurindulius, laatste koning der West-Friezen

This engraving of Riedsardus Elinus, last king of the West Frisians, was made by Pieter Feddes van Harlingen in the 17th century. In it, we see an idealised, regal figure standing before a landscape. This print was made in the Netherlands, a region with a rich tradition of printmaking during the Dutch Golden Age, and which was at this time undergoing immense social and political change. The figure of the king seems to invoke a sense of cultural pride at a time when Dutch identity was being formed and contested. Consider how the print uses visual cues – the crown, the fur mantle – to evoke a sense of noble heritage. The coat of arms in the upper corner is another assertion of sovereignty. To truly understand this print, historians might consult period texts, maps, and other visual representations of Frisian history and Dutch identity to provide more cultural context. The meaning of this print lies in understanding the social conditions of its time.