Portret van Eleonore Magdalene Therese 1690 - 1713

This is Pieter Schenk’s portrait of Eleonore Magdalene Therese, made using etching and engraving. Schenk created this print as part of a broader visual culture that helped to construct and disseminate images of power and nobility. The portrait, with its formal composition and ornate details, reflects the status and identity of Eleonore as Holy Roman Empress. Yet, if we reflect on gender dynamics of the time, we can consider how Eleonore’s identity was both exalted and constrained by her position. She was a figurehead, but also subject to the expectations and limitations placed on women in power. The Latin inscription, "Timens Deum ipsa Laudabitur," which translates to "She who fears God will be praised," speaks to the period's emphasis on female piety and virtue. The portrait invites us to reflect on the complex interplay between personal identity and societal roles, and the ways in which these dynamics are visually encoded in art.