Rudolf II van Habsburg 1611

This engraving of Rudolf II van Habsburg was created by Crispijn van de Passe II. The portrait captures Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor during a period of intense religious and political conflict in Europe. Consider the weight of expectation placed on leaders of the time. Rudolf is shown enthroned, adorned with symbols of power – sword, orb and scepter – which were meant to legitimize his rule. The display of imperial regalia reinforced the power of the Habsburg dynasty. Yet there's something static, almost melancholic, about Rudolf's expression. The composition implies a sense of duty and the burdens of leadership. Rudolf II presided over a diverse empire with internal religious divisions. Here we can interpret the artist's emotional response to the political complexities of the time. The artist seems to be asking: how can we reconcile the personal with the political, the emotional with the demands of power?