Portret van Henri II de Bourbon-Condé 1647 - 1649

This engraving by Gilles Rousselet is a portrait of Henri II de Bourbon, Prince of Condé, and it resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Produced in France, sometime in the mid-17th century, this print gives us an insight into the visual culture of power at the time. Note the armor, sash, and flowing hair, each detail carefully rendered to project an image of authority and nobility. The fleur-de-lis at the bottom is a clear visual claim to the family’s royal connections. The print itself operates within a network of social relations. As a multiple, it was likely intended for wide distribution, reinforcing the Prince's image among various audiences. Consider the role of institutions, like the court and the printmaking workshop, in shaping and disseminating such images. Was this portrait meant to celebrate his lineage, or to solidify his political position during a time of upheaval? To understand the full picture, we might turn to archival documents, letters, and other historical sources. Doing so allows us to understand how portraits operated as potent tools in the theater of power.