The Betrothal of Philip and Joanna

The Betrothal of Philip and Joanna by Albrecht Dürer is a significant early modern print, executed as a woodcut sometime between 1485 and 1528. This important work captures a key moment in European dynastic history: the marriage of Philip the Handsome of Burgundy and Joanna of Castile. Dürer, a master draftsman and printmaker, utilized the popular medium of the woodcut to commemorate this politically crucial union, which united the Hapsburg and Spanish royal lines and set the stage for the massive empire inherited by their son, Charles V.

The composition centers on the principal Men and Women, often surrounded by attendants or symbolic representations of their respective houses. Particular attention is paid to the elaborate Insignia displayed, including coats of arms and the collars of high chivalric orders, which visually reinforced the immense power consolidated through the marriage alliance. As a leading figure of the Northern Renaissance, Dürer’s meticulous detail, even in the relatively coarse medium of the woodcut print, elevated this informational piece far beyond simple propaganda.

The production of such large-scale narrative prints allowed for wide dissemination of official imagery throughout the early sixteenth century. This print medium ensured that important historical and political events, like the event depicted in The Betrothal of Philip and Joanna, were accessible across various social strata. This impression of the woodcut is preserved in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, providing a crucial example of how the prolific artist Dürer contributed to the early history of reproducible art and public documentation.