De keurvorsten van Beieren en van Brandenburg op bezoek bij koning Willem III, 1691 1711

This etching from 1691, made by an anonymous artist, depicts the electors of Bavaria and Brandenburg visiting King William III. It points to the active role the Dutch Republic played in European power politics at the time. Focusing on the act of visiting, the image presents William as a key figure in international diplomacy. The Dutch Republic was then at the height of its power, a major player in the alliances against Louis XIV's France. The meeting would have been freighted with political significance, with implications for military strategy. What's particularly interesting here is the institutional history: the print was produced and distributed as news. It offered a visual record of an event that shaped the course of European politics, reinforcing the idea of the Netherlands as a centre of power. As historians, to truly understand this image we have to consider sources such as diplomatic records, pamphlets and other political prints to fully grasp its meanings and its place within the political landscape.