Portret van Don Luis de Requesens y Zunega before 1601

This is a portrait of Don Luis de Requesens y Zunega, made by Christoffel van Sichem I, a Northern Netherlandish printmaker working in the late 16th and early 17th century. The image gives a glimpse into the politics of imagery in that period. In the print, the imposing figure of Don Luis stands as a symbol of Spanish power in the Netherlands. The Latin inscription celebrates his titles and status as commander for the Spanish army. His elaborate clothes indicate his high social status, and the weapons imply that he will use violence to maintain that status. But we must also consider that the Netherlands was in revolt against the Spanish crown at the time. How would local people have viewed this image? Would it have been seen as a symbol of oppression? As historians, we can use prints like these as primary source documents, researching the complex political dynamics between the Netherlands and Spain, and the role of imagery in shaping public opinion at the time.