Portret van Hans Carl von Carolath-Beuthen 1741 - 1767

Editor: This is "Portret van Hans Carl von Carolath-Beuthen," a portrait made sometime between 1741 and 1767 by Johann Martin Bernigeroth, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. It’s an engraving, so a print. What strikes me is the combination of finery, like his wig, juxtaposed with his battle-ready armour. How do you read that symbolism? Curator: That’s an astute observation. The symbols here are indeed layered and telling. The armour speaks to a historical lineage of power, of military strength and feudal obligation. But see how it’s rendered obsolete by the very delicate, almost feminine wig and lace collar? Editor: So the symbols are working against each other, creating a tension? Curator: Precisely. Consider the Black Eagle Order alluded to in the inscription, "des schwartzen Adler Ordens Ritter." This Order, heavily laden with symbolism itself, reflects allegiance to Prussian power, of a ruler bestowing honour. How do you interpret the artist's decision to combine these symbols? Editor: Maybe it's about a man caught between tradition and changing times? Honouring a past while participating in a present defined by different social codes? Curator: That's insightful. He’s literally framed—an oval prison—between fading notions of chivalry and the rising tide of absolutist power. The engraving, a medium designed for mass dissemination, further democratizes the image, subtly undermining the exclusive claims of nobility. What do you make of his gaze? Editor: He seems confident, yet a little distant. As if he is aware he’s being looked at and judged. Curator: Perhaps he is both subject and object. Power performs for an audience but can also be rendered as powerless. Reflecting on how symbols operate within an image certainly does allow us insight into our cultural memory and collective consciousness, doesn’t it? Editor: Definitely! Looking at this print now, I see not just a portrait but a cultural artifact, full of information. I learned a lot!