Portret van Friedrich Ulrich Braunschweig-Lüneburg, hertog van Wolfenbüttel 1701

Wilhelm Schwan made this engraving of Friedrich Ulrich, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. The portrait depicts the Duke in full armor, a symbol of his military power and aristocratic status in the 17th century. Produced in Germany during the Thirty Years' War, a conflict driven by religious and political tensions, this image reflects the culture of nobility and the importance of military leadership. Schwan, as a skilled engraver, would have been employed to create images that reinforced the Duke's authority. The armor, the crest, and even the Duke's stern expression are visual cues to his power. We might consider the role of portraiture at this time in consolidating power. By looking into the history of the House of Brunswick-Lüneburg and studying the visual language of power in 17th-century Germany, we can better understand the complex interplay between art, politics, and social identity.