Portret van koning Ferdinand I van Portugal after 1621

Cornelis Galle I made this portrait of King Ferdinand I of Portugal with engraving. Images of rulers, like this one, have always had a clear public role. They were designed to convey power and legitimacy. This print likely dates from the late 16th or early 17th century, a time when the Dutch Republic was establishing itself and defining its relationship to other European powers. Galle was working in Antwerp, a major center for printmaking and a city with close ties to both the Spanish crown and the Dutch rebels. The choice to depict a Portuguese king, and the way he is portrayed, would have had political implications. The symbols of monarchy such as the crown and scepter are obvious, but it's worth asking what this image was intended to communicate. To understand the image better we would need to do more research. Investigating the print's publishing history and circulation patterns can help us understand its role in shaping political opinion. The meaning of such an image is always contingent on its specific social and institutional context.