Gesprek tussen Margaretha I van Denemarken en Erik XIV van Zweden 1730

This small print, made anonymously around 1730, depicts a fictional meeting between Margaretha I of Denmark and Erik XIV of Sweden. We see them, framed by classical architecture in a formal garden, exchanging swords, symbols of their royal power. But why this imaginary encounter? To understand the print, we need to consider its cultural context: the small, independent Dutch Republic of the 18th century, whose merchants and intellectuals took a keen interest in the wider world. They published many almanacs, newspapers, and histories, which were often illustrated with prints like this. Though small in scale, these images shaped public opinion and created a sense of shared identity. By representing historical figures and events, they offered a way to reflect on the present. For historians, images like this are important pieces of evidence. By researching the almanacs in which they appeared, we can learn about the political and cultural values of the Dutch Republic, and its place within Europe.