Portret van Ferdinand Alvarez de Toledo, hertog van Alva 1623

Crispijn van den Queborn created this print of Ferdinand Alvarez de Toledo, the Duke of Alva, sometime between 1640-1652. The Duke, known for his harsh rule as Governor-General of the Netherlands, is depicted within an ornate oval frame, his armor suggesting power and authority. Born into Spanish nobility, Alva's legacy is deeply intertwined with the political and religious conflicts of the 16th century. As a symbol of Spanish oppression, he suppressed the Dutch revolt, and was ruthless in his persecution of Protestants. The imagery Queborn uses in the frame, incorporating grotesque masks, hints at the complex and sinister nature of his legacy. The contrast between Alva’s noble bearing and these unsettling symbols evokes a sense of unease, reflecting the trauma inflicted upon the Netherlands during his reign. This print serves not just as a portrait but as a historical document, encapsulating the fraught relationship between Spain and the Netherlands, and the enduring impact of a figure whose name remains synonymous with brutality and repression.