Portret van Albrecht van Beieren, graaf van Holland, Henegouwen en Zeeland 1601

Christoffel van Sichem I created this woodcut portrait of Albrecht van Beieren, Count of Holland, Henegouwen, and Zeeland, sometime between the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The image presents us with a figure of power, laden with the symbols of authority: sword, shield, and elaborate garments. The print was made during the rise of the Dutch Republic, a period marked by a struggle for independence from Spanish rule and a questioning of traditional hierarchies. Consider how the artist uses visual cues, such as the Count's stern gaze and erect posture, to project an image of strength and legitimacy. Portraits like this played a key role in shaping public perception and reinforcing social order. Historical archives, genealogical records, and studies of heraldry can shed light on the complex dynamics of power and identity in the Netherlands during this period. The meaning we ascribe to art is always colored by the unique lens of its social and institutional context.