Portrait of Elisabeth of Bourbon, Queen of Spain 1627 - 1649

This engraving by Pieter de Jode the Younger, presents Elisabeth of Bourbon, Queen of Spain. Consider how the visual codes of monarchy function here. The elaborate ruff, the jewels, the architectural frame: these all contribute to a carefully constructed image of royal authority. The print was made in the Netherlands, a territory then under the dominion of the Spanish crown. In that sense, it's a piece of propaganda, designed to reinforce the power of the Spanish monarchy. But, the Netherlands was also a place where new ideas about individual liberty and self-governance were taking hold. So we might also read this image as an assertion of power in the face of growing challenges to the old order. As art historians, we use sources such as letters, diaries, and political pamphlets to better understand the context in which images like this were created and consumed. The meaning of a work of art is never fixed, but always subject to the push and pull of social and institutional forces.