Graaf Jan II van Holland 1586 - 1587

Hendrick Goltzius created this engraving of Graaf Jan II van Holland, as part of a series of portraits of Dutch counts, sometime before his death in 1617. The print reflects the cultural milieu of the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by economic prosperity, artistic innovation, and a growing sense of national identity. Here, Goltzius presents Jan II with all the symbols of nobility: sword, shield, and confident posture. Yet it is not only an assertion of power, it is a constructed identity. The elaborate garments, designed to convey status, simultaneously reveal and conceal. As we contemplate this image, consider what isn't shown – the lives of the common people, the complexities of governance, the struggles for power. This portrait invites us to reflect on the selective nature of historical representation and the stories we choose to tell about ourselves and others. It underscores how identity, particularly in the context of power, is a carefully crafted performance, shaped by societal expectations and cultural narratives.