Portret van Maximilian, Graf von Waldstein 1765 - 1828

This is Carl Ernst Christoph Hess’s portrait of Maximilian, Graf von Waldstein, an engraving. Hess worked during a time when portraiture served as a powerful tool for constructing and reinforcing social hierarchies. Maximilian's gaze, though directed slightly off-center, conveys a sense of aristocratic detachment. The textures and tones achieved through engraving lend a certain formality to the piece. Yet, this is contrasted by the almost childlike features of the Count. The soft, rounded face and the elaborate, almost bouffant hairstyle, push against the rigid conventions of aristocratic portraiture. The portrait makes one consider the tension between prescribed roles and individual identity, especially for those born into privilege. It invites us to consider the emotional landscape of those who exist within the gilded frames of history. The portrait is not just an image of a person, but a reflection on the complexities of identity, status, and self-perception.