Portret van Jan van Oostenrijk, landvoogd der Nederlanden before 1611

This is a print of Jan van Oostenrijk made by Christoffel van Sichem I sometime between 1546 and 1624. It connects to a wider social context of political propaganda during the Dutch Revolt. In this image, visual codes communicate power, note the armor and weapons. Culturally, the inclusion of a coat of arms is a reference to aristocratic lineage. Historically, Jan van Oostenrijk was a key figure in the 16th-century conflicts between the Spanish Habsburgs and the rebelling Dutch provinces. The print reflects the political turbulence of the time, as the Netherlands sought independence from Spanish rule. It critiques the institutions of power. Historians use resources such as period documents to understand the context in which art was made. The meaning of art is deeply intertwined with social and institutional context.