Portret van Daniel Gottlieb Hartmann 1790

Karl August Brummer created this print of Daniel Gottlieb Hartmann sometime in the late 18th century. Hartmann was the mayor of Görlitz, a town in Germany, and Brummer’s portrait immortalizes Hartmann in his position of power. The image presents a man of the Enlightenment, embodying the era's emphasis on reason, order, and hierarchy. As mayor, Hartmann belonged to a privileged class that benefited from the existing social structure. The portrait’s style, with its meticulous detail and formal composition, reflects the values of a society that upheld status and decorum. Consider how portraits like this reinforced the power structures of the time, celebrating those in authority while often overlooking the lives and experiences of the majority. As you look, reflect on the individuals who are absent from these historical narratives and how their stories might challenge our understanding of the period.