Portret van Louise de Kéroualle hertogin van Portsmouth

Abraham de Blois made this print of Louise de Kéroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth, sometime around the turn of the 18th century. Prints like this circulated widely and served to publicize images of powerful figures. Consider the role of portraiture within the social structure of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Louise de Kéroualle was a mistress of King Charles II. The King was known for his many mistresses, whom he often elevated in social status. This print captures the sitter's nobility and beauty, but it also speaks to the social dynamics of the English court at the time. The print mediates between the public image of the Duchess and the political realities of the period. The social historian is interested in the meanings that images held for their original audiences. To understand those meanings, we have recourse to a variety of historical documents, from diaries and letters to popular publications. Each of these sources can help us better understand the complex relationship between art and society.