Maria Markgräfin zu Brandenburg 1539

Peter Gertner painted this portrait of Maria, Margravine of Brandenburg, likely in the latter half of the 16th century. The incomplete nature of the painting suggests insights into the economic and social conditions of artistic production at the time. In Renaissance Germany, portraiture served to solidify social status, family connections, and political power. It was a tool used by the elite. Gertner’s meticulous rendering of Maria's face contrasts sharply with the sketched-in attire. Could this indicate that the commission was never fully paid? Or perhaps it reflects changing tastes in portraiture. As historians, we might turn to archival records of Gertner’s commissions, family genealogies of the Brandenburgs, and studies of contemporary fashion to understand the social context of this artwork. Understanding this history allows us to see how art is always contingent on the social and institutional conditions in which it's made.