Kong Frederik IV 1712

Andreas Reinhardt made this engraving of King Frederik IV sometime between the late 17th and early 18th century. The image deploys established visual codes of power and authority, reflecting the institutionalization of monarchy in Europe at this time. Made in Denmark, the portrait presents Frederik within an elaborate, crown-adorned framework, the composition reinforcing his elevated status. Latin inscriptions further legitimize his rule, linking him to historical and divine power. This echoes the broader cultural context, where the monarchy heavily relied on symbolic representation to maintain its authority. The very act of creating and disseminating such images served to reinforce the social hierarchy. Historians study such works through, for example, court documents, correspondence, and emblem books, which help us to understand not only the image itself but also the complex network of power relations it represents. This unveils how art actively shaped, and was shaped by, the social and political landscape of its time.