Godfried van Bouillon als een van de negen helden 1621 - 1636

This engraving of Godfried van Bouillon as one of the nine heroes was made by Willem de Passe in the early 17th century. It presents the historical figure as a defender of Christian faith, a heroic archetype promoted and celebrated within European aristocratic circles of the time. The image creates meaning through its detailed depiction of Godfried in armor, a visual code associated with chivalry, nobility, and military prowess. The Latin inscriptions around the portrait identify him as "Defender of the Christian Religion" and "King of Belgium," aligning him with both religious and nationalistic sentiments. The reference to freeing the Holy Land from the Saracens links him directly to the Crusades, a pivotal historical event in the shaping of European identity. To understand this artwork fully, we might delve into sources that explore the cultural significance of the Nine Worthies, the history of the Crusades, and the role of the printmaking industry in shaping historical narratives. It is through such inquiries that we can better understand the public role of art and the politics of imagery.