Hendrik IV en de hertog van Sully 1751 - 1816

Reinier Vinkeles created this print, "Hendrik IV en de hertog van Sully," employing etching and burin techniques. Vinkeles lived in a time of political shifts and Enlightenment ideals which influenced his artistic lens. The print depicts Hendrik IV, King of France, in an intimate exchange with the Duke of Sully. Positioned in what seems to be a place of governance, the King places his hand on Sully, as the Duke gestures towards a document in his other hand. The document itself is a symbol of power. At the time, portraits and depictions of political figures were tools for constructing and reinforcing power structures. Vinkeles captures a moment of quiet authority, portraying the human connection between the monarch and his advisor. This artwork invites us to consider the personal relationships that shape larger historical narratives, and the emotional labor of governance.