Portret van Johann Gabriel Seidl 1810 - 1859

Carl Kotterba created this print of Johann Gabriel Seidl using engraving techniques sometime in the first half of the 19th century. This portrait provides insight into the cultural and social values of the time. Johann Gabriel Seidl was a school teacher, but is best known as an archeologist, poet and lyricist. The image employs visual codes of the Austrian Biedermeier era, reflecting a focus on domesticity and the middle class. Note the details of Seidl's clothing, from his bow-tie to his jacket, which signal his status as an educated professional. In Austrian society at the time, class was very important, and certain clothes and comportments were expected of those in his professional class. As historians, we can use these clues, as well as other sources such as letters or journals, to understand how people saw themselves and others in the society of the time. Examining art in its social and institutional contexts allows a richer understanding of its cultural work.