David, Solomon, Rehoboam, from The Twelve Kings of Israel 1520

Lucas van Leyden made this print of David, Solomon, and Rehoboam, three kings of Israel, using engraving techniques sometime in the first third of the 16th century. The image presents a vision of monarchy reflecting the artist’s historical context. Van Leyden was a Dutch artist living through the tumult of the Reformation and the rise of powerful, centralized states. Here, the artist evokes a lineage of power, but also subtly comments on the nature of leadership. Note how each king is presented with different attributes: David with his harp, Solomon with his royal staff, and Rehoboam, rather weakly, with a long stick. The visual codes suggest that the legitimacy of power rests on more than just inheritance. This print reflects the social conditions of its time, including religious upheaval and shifting political landscapes. Understanding this requires looking at the history of the Dutch Reformation, as well as studies of Northern Renaissance printmaking. Approaching art in this way reveals how images participate in broader cultural conversations and social change.