Portret van Frederik IV van Denemarken en Noorwegen 1702

This print of Frederik IV of Denmark and Norway was made by Pieter van Gunst around 1702. It presents us with questions about the ways in which royal power was projected and maintained at the turn of the 18th century. In this Dutch work, Frederick is shown framed by symbols of peace and war. A crown and the phrase "Constanta Et Labore" at the top suggests the rewards of perseverance and labor, while cannons and weapons at the bottom signal the power required to defend the realm. How do we read these visual cues today? Were they effective then? The Dutch Republic, where this image was made, was a major center for printmaking, and images like this would have circulated widely. Understanding the effect of such images requires that we consider the complex relationship between rulers, artists, and the public in the early modern period. To learn more, we might research the printmaking trade in the Netherlands and the history of the Danish royal family.