Portret van Rudolf I 1647 - 1678

This engraving of Rudolf I was made by Nicolas de Larmessin in France in the late 17th century. As a printmaker, Larmessin was keenly aware of the politics of imagery, and how the institutions of art helped create meaning. This portrait of Rudolf I, a king from centuries before Larmessin’s time, tells us much about French society in the 1600s. Note the trappings of royalty: his crown, royal cloak, and the heraldry below, all framed by a decorative oval. This suggests the enduring power of the monarchy in the 17th century, when the French kings were consolidating power. Yet engravings like these were available to a wide public audience. Analyzing these kinds of images requires an understanding of the culture that produced them. To learn more, you might consult primary sources from the time, such as political pamphlets, or research the patronage networks of the artist. By situating art in its social and institutional context, we can better understand its historical significance.