Penning met portret van Albrecht van Beieren, graaf van Holland, Henegouwen en Zeeland 17th century

This is a print of a medal depicting Albrecht van Beieren, Count of Holland, Henegouwen and Zeeland. It was likely made in the Netherlands, but the artist is unknown. Images of rulers were carefully crafted in early modern Europe. In the top roundel, Albrecht’s armor and stern gaze present him as a powerful leader. The inscription around him emphasizes his Bavarian origins. Below, we see the elaborate coat-of-arms of Bavaria. Albrecht was granted control of Holland, Zeeland, and Hainaut in 1358, which caused great political upheaval. The imagery on this medal invokes the traditional right of noblemen to rule, and we can understand it as an attempt to legitimize Albrecht’s contested claim to power. To understand the context of this image further, historians can examine similar medals, family crests, and other forms of political propaganda from the era. The meaning of art is always contingent on historical context.