Portret van Willem I, prins van Oranje c. 1696 - 1743

Jan Lamsvelt made this print of Willem I, Prince of Orange, using etching techniques in the early 18th century, though it depicts a figure from the 16th century. The image embodies the politics of imagery and the public role of art in the Netherlands. Willem I, a key figure in the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule, is presented here as a symbol of national identity and resistance. The text below the portrait emphasizes his role as the "savior of our country," a Protestant leader, and a figure of strength and piety. Looking at the institutional history, the print circulates and reinforces a narrative of Dutch exceptionalism and Protestant virtue, and it reflects the self-conscious construction of national identity. To fully understand this image, historians use textual analysis of the inscription, alongside social and political context, to reveal the artwork's role in shaping collective memory and national identity. Art's meaning is always contingent on its social and institutional context.