Aankomst van Maria de' Medici in de haven van Harwich 1639

This engraving, from an unknown artist, shows the arrival of Maria de' Medici at the port of Harwich. It would have been made around 1600 in the Netherlands. In the 17th century, the Dutch Republic was a center for printmaking. Prints were not just art, but also news. They depicted current events and were sold as souvenirs. This image probably circulated among those interested in European royalty and politics, especially as Maria de' Medici was a controversial figure. The print shows the harbor crowded with ships, suggesting the importance of maritime trade and travel. It also portrays the English landscape as somewhat imposing and formidable. How the institution of monarchy depended on visual representation for its power, and how it was subject to public opinion. To understand it better, we might research the printmaking industry in the Dutch Republic, the political climate of the time, and the relationship between England and France.