Portret van Albrecht III, hertog van Saksen 17th century

This is an engraving of Albrecht III, Duke of Saxony, made by an anonymous artist. The portrait presents us with a set of ideas about status and hierarchy. Consider, for example, the Duke’s clothing, which signals power. The fur trim and the elaborate crown are visual cues of wealth and authority. This image creates meaning through references to courtly culture in the Holy Roman Empire of the late Middle Ages. Specific features, such as the Duke’s stern expression, are indicative of his position of power. The history of the image is also closely linked to the institutional and political histories of the area. Further research in archives and libraries could uncover details about the artist, the patron who commissioned the work, and the social context in which it was made. This reminds us that meaning in art is always contingent on its historical and institutional context.