Portret van Adamantios Korais 1776 - 1824

Johann Christian Ernst Müller created this print of Adamantios Korais, though the exact date of its creation is unknown. Korais was a Greek scholar instrumental in the Greek Enlightenment, which was itself a key cultural precursor to Greek independence. Prints like this one played an important role in the social and political life of 19th-century Europe. They allowed the image of important figures like Korais to circulate widely at a relatively low cost. This print would have helped to construct Korais’s public image as a man of learning and a figurehead of Greek cultural revival. As historians, we can examine the inscription on the print to learn about the image’s purpose. Further research into the networks of intellectuals, artists, and publishers involved in its production would reveal how prints like this helped to shape the cultural landscape of early 19th-century Europe.