Portret van Ernst Rüdiger van Starhemberg 1670 - 1691

This is Thomas Hirschmann’s portrait of Ernst Rüdiger van Starhemberg, made in the 17th or 18th century. The print captures Starhemberg, the military commander known for defending Vienna against the Ottomans in 1683. Consider how Starhemberg's identity as a military leader is constructed through Hirschmann's engraving. The portrait situates him within a very specific historical and cultural context, that of the Austro-Ottoman wars, and the perceived threat of the Ottoman Empire to European powers. Note the armour, a symbol of power and authority. The inscription below the portrait references Starhemberg’s courage and heroic acts in defending the Emperor’s throne. The print perpetuates the narrative of the heroic defender of Christendom, and the 'Turks' as a threatening 'Other'. Consider how this image participates in the construction of collective memory and national identity, framing Starhemberg as a symbol of Austrian resistance and strength during a tumultuous period in European history.