Willem II, tweede koning der West-Friezen 1618 - 1620

This engraving of Willem II, second king of the West Frisians, was made by Pieter Feddes van Harlingen in the 17th century. It depicts Willem wearing a crown and cape, holding a staff in front of a landscape featuring a coat of arms and the settlement of 'Harlinga'. Pieter Feddes van Harlingen worked during the period that saw the rise of the Dutch Republic. Prints like this one contributed to a sense of Dutch identity and national pride, often relying on historical and mythological themes. Frisia, corresponding to the northern parts of the Netherlands and Germany, was an important region in the Roman period. The text in the engraving emphasizes the region and its people. The image creates meaning by positioning Willem as the king of this region and by using the visual codes of royalty, such as crown, staff and cape. Art historians examine prints like this in the context of the printmaking industry and the cultural function of images. We would study iconographic sources, coats of arms, and texts from this period to better understand its meaning. This reveals the crucial role of art as something that is embedded in complex institutional and social structures.