Portret van Friedrich Wilhelm Karl van Pruisen c. 1800 - 1825

Friedrich Wilhelm Bollinger made this print of Friedrich Wilhelm Karl of Prussia. Prints such as these offered a way to disseminate images of powerful figures in early 19th century Europe. This portrait presents us with an example of the visual codes surrounding nobility and military authority in Prussia at the time. Consider the trappings of military rank. The uniform, epaulettes, and decorations all speak to the importance of the Prussian military in the wake of the Napoleonic wars. Note how the sitter is framed in an oval, giving him the appearance of a figure from antiquity. This reference to the classical world served to ennoble aristocratic subjects, suggesting timeless virtues of leadership and courage. By analyzing such imagery, we can better understand the role of art in constructing and reinforcing social hierarchies of the time. Researching Bollinger's career and the networks of printmakers active in Prussia would shed further light on the circulation of these images and the institutional structures supporting them.