The Marriage of Maximilian of Austria with Mary of Burgundy n.d.

Theodoor van Thulden made this print of the Marriage of Maximilian of Austria with Mary of Burgundy in the 17th century. The image connects to a moment in the late 15th century when political power in Europe was being negotiated through marriage. The print creates meaning through the visual codes of aristocracy, with Maximilian in full armor and Mary in royal garb. In the 17th century, the Habsburgs used art like this to legitimize its rule by linking itself to earlier periods and noble houses. The print doesn't simply depict an event; it actively constructs a narrative around power, succession, and the divine right of kings. To understand this print better, we might examine emblem books popular at the time and archival documents detailing Habsburg patronage of the arts. Recognizing that art is embedded in the social and institutional frameworks of its time, means that an image like this is not just aesthetic, it is historical.