Verwonding van Hendrik II tijdens een toernooi, 1559 1565 - 1573

Frans Hogenberg created this print of the Injury of Henry II during a tournament in 1559. It captures a pivotal moment in French history, visualized through the spectacle of a royal tournament. The image presents an arena filled with participants and spectators, all framed by the architecture of the time. Made in the Netherlands, this print reveals more than just an accident; it reflects the political and social tensions of 16th-century Europe. France was then a major power, with the monarchy central to its identity. A mishap during a tournament, usually a display of royal strength and chivalry, instead became a symbol of vulnerability. The artist used printmaking, a relatively new technology, to disseminate this image widely, turning a personal tragedy into a public event with profound implications for the French monarchy. To understand this work better, one might explore contemporary newspapers and political pamphlets, tracing the ripple effects of this event on the French court and beyond.