Gezicht op Härnösand 1692

Willem Swidde made this print of Härnösand sometime between 1661 and 1697. It offers a bird’s eye view of the Swedish city. It's reasonable to assume that Swidde never actually visited the city. Instead, he relied on descriptions and perhaps rudimentary sketches. Prints like this one, commissioned by civic authorities, served a crucial function. This image of Härnösand reflects the growing centralization of power in Sweden at the time. Consider the composition. The artist emphasizes the city's infrastructure, its port, and its architecture. All this served to project an image of Swedish power and prosperity. The print flattens out any potential social complexities. We don’t see ordinary people, only ships representing trade and connection. To fully appreciate this print, one must place it within the context of Swedish history, delving into archives and records to uncover the motivations behind its creation and circulation. By doing so, we begin to understand the subtle ways in which art served as a tool of statecraft.