Portret van Eleonora van Oostenrijk c. 1670 - 1678

Nicolas de Larmessin created this portrait of Eleonora of Austria using engraving. The print, now at the Rijksmuseum, captures Eleonora at a pivotal moment as a figure of dynastic power and influence. The portrait presents a vision of aristocratic femininity, carefully constructed through symbols of status and beauty. Yet, this image exists within a historical context of arranged marriages and political alliances, complicating any simple reading of individual identity. Eleonora's marriage into Polish royalty underscores the strategic role women played in shaping European politics. How do we reconcile the personal with the political in such portraits? What does it mean to consider the lives of women, like Eleonora, who were both subjects and agents of history? It invites us to reflect on the intricate connections between personal identity, gender, and political power in the 17th century.