Penning met het portret van Johan Willem en de namen van de keurvorsten van de Palts 1685 - 1716

This print presents a portrait of Johan Willem, Elector Palatine, surrounded by the names of other electors. It was produced by an anonymous artist. The Holy Roman Empire was an elective monarchy, and this print reminds us of its peculiar politics. The emperor was chosen by a small group of electors who, in theory, represented the wider interests of the Empire. Johan Willem was one such elector, responsible for choosing the emperor in 1690 and 1711. The print emphasizes Willem’s status and role in the imperial system. This was a time when the authority of monarchs was hotly contested, and images like this were meant to assert the power and legitimacy of rulers. Looking at this image, a historian might ask: how did Johan Willem exercise his power, and how did people perceive his actions? Resources like letters, political pamphlets, and financial records can help us understand the social and institutional context in which this image was produced.