Portret van Albrecht I van Habsburg, Rooms-Duits koning 18th century

This is an anonymous portrait of Albrecht I van Habsburg, Roman-German King. The print offers a glimpse into the intricate dance between power, identity, and representation in the late medieval period. Albrecht I, who lived from 1255 to 1308, was a prominent figure in the Holy Roman Empire. His reign was marked by political maneuvering and military campaigns aimed at consolidating Habsburg power. Yet, here, in his portrait, we find not a man of action but an icon, carefully constructed and imbued with symbolic meaning. Consider the function of portraiture during this era. Royalty used portraits to project an image of authority, legitimacy, and dynastic continuity. Every element, from the crown atop his head to the cut of his garments, serves to reinforce his status as divinely ordained ruler. The text in the lower half of the image reinforces his status and describes him as someone ‘who gives the best that is lovely.’ This portrait invites us to consider how power is not simply wielded but performed, negotiated, and ultimately, visually constructed.