King Christian II of Denmark c. 1529

Jacob Binck created this engraving of King Christian II of Denmark sometime in the 16th century. During the Renaissance, portraiture functioned as a powerful tool for shaping identity and political narratives. Note the regalia surrounding King Christian. The artist presents the King as a figure of power and authority, surrounded by heraldry and symbols of his reign. What is missing from this image is a sense of the internal life of the sitter. The King's expression remains opaque, betraying little of his personal emotions or experiences. The use of portraiture was carefully controlled by those in power, reinforcing a sense of divine right. Binck's engraving offers a glimpse into how identity, power, and representation were negotiated in early modern Europe. It reminds us to look critically at the stories told through images.