Graf Kleist von Nollendorf 1805 - 1816

Christian Schule created this engraving of Graf Kleist von Nollendorf in Prussia. It exemplifies the intersection of art and social status in the 18th and 19th centuries. Consider how the visual codes in this image work to communicate status and power. The subject, a Royal Prussian General-Lieutenant, is depicted within an oval frame, a formal convention that lends an air of classical dignity. His military attire, complete with medals and braiding, signifies his rank and service to the Prussian state. The social conditions that shape artistic production are clear. This portrait was likely commissioned to celebrate Kleist von Nollendorf and reinforce his position within the Prussian social hierarchy. The work, thus, operates within a system where art serves to affirm existing power structures. To fully understand this work, we must examine the history of the Prussian military and the role of the aristocracy within it. Historical archives, institutional records, and biographical research are crucial resources for uncovering the social meanings embedded in this image.