Portret van Frederik V, koning van Bohemen, keurvorst van de Palts 1620

Crispijn van den Queborn created this portrait of Frederick V, King of Bohemia, Elector Palatine, using engraving. It’s an image deeply embedded in the political and religious upheavals of 17th-century Europe. Made in the Netherlands, this portrait served as a potent piece of political communication. Frederick V was a key figure in the Protestant cause during the Thirty Years' War. His acceptance of the Bohemian crown in 1619 challenged the Habsburg dynasty and ignited a continental conflict. Queborn's engraving, with its formal depiction and Latin inscriptions, subtly argues for Frederick’s legitimacy amidst widespread political turmoil. As historians, we delve into the complex web of religious conflict, dynastic ambitions, and emergent national identities. Analyzing pamphlets, letters, and other period documents, we can understand the power of images in shaping public opinion and legitimizing political claims. This portrait reminds us that art is never neutral; it is deeply embedded in the social and institutional contexts of its time.