Portret van Ferdinand I van Habsburg, keizer 1628 - 1670

This print of Ferdinand I of Habsburg was made by Pieter de Jode the Younger, sometime in the mid-17th century. It’s an engraving, a medium that allowed for the relatively cheap reproduction of images, and thus the wide dissemination of political propaganda. Ferdinand ruled the Holy Roman Empire during a period of intense religious conflict. Consider how the image creates meaning through visual codes and cultural references. Ferdinand is in full armor, holding a sword. This is a standard way of depicting a ruler. It emphasizes his power, of course, but also the idea of just rule, by force if necessary. The architectural details are significant too. The archway behind Ferdinand denotes the power of the state, and the brickwork suggests stability and permanence. To understand the image better, we can look to sources that reflect the political and religious tensions that characterized the period in which it was made. The print is not necessarily neutral, but instead offers us one interpretation of a key political figure.