Portret van Willem III, prins van Oranje 1663

This engraving of Willem III, Prince of Orange, was made anonymously, and its size suggests it may have been made for a book. The formal presentation of this figure speaks to the institutional importance of the House of Orange in the Netherlands. Looking closely at the print, we can observe the fashion of the period in the Netherlands. He wears a long wig, a lace cravat, and an embroidered waistcoat. The clothing and hairstyle of Willem III speak to the political environment in which the Dutch Republic was a major center of trade and power. Consider the political role of imagery: How does this depiction of Willem III seek to enhance his authority? How does the medium of printmaking allow for the widespread dissemination of these ideas? As historians of art, we look to sources, like historical documents and costume books, to better understand the world that produced this image and its public role. We can learn so much from the social conditions that shaped artistic production.