Portret van Hedwig Eleonora, koningin van Zweden 1636 - 1666

This is Philip Fruytiers's portrait of Hedwig Eleonora, Queen of Sweden, made using engraving. The portrait encapsulates the visual codes of power and status that were crucial to the self-presentation of royalty in the 17th century. Fruytiers was from Antwerp, a city that, despite being part of the Spanish Netherlands, had strong cultural ties to the Dutch Republic. This context is vital: the Dutch Republic was forging a new national identity in contradistinction to monarchical models of governance, yet portraiture was still a vital source of cultural capital. Here, Hedwig Eleonora is presented with the symbols of her royal status such as the crown and ermine cloak. The drapery in the background adds a touch of theatricality and grandeur. Understanding this image fully requires historical research, including looking at the history of European royal families, the politics of the Dutch Republic, and the relationship between the Netherlands and Sweden in the 17th Century. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.