Portret van Willem IV, prins van Oranje-Nassau 1751 - 1849

This small portrait of Willem IV, Prince of Orange-Nassau, resides in the Rijksmuseum. Its anonymous creation speaks volumes about representation and power in the 18th century. Portraits of nobility functioned as more than mere likenesses; they were carefully constructed images designed to project authority, legitimacy, and dynastic continuity. This engraving, with its formal presentation, is likely a political tool used to solidify the image of Willem IV at a time when the House of Orange sought to reassert its influence. Note the choice of attire and hairstyle, which would have signaled status and authority. What does it mean to consider how images such as this one contribute to the construction of historical narratives? How do they uphold or challenge societal norms, and whose voices remain absent from these carefully curated representations of power?