Bildnis Dr. Böhmer aus Frankfurt c. 1817 - 1821

This portrait of Dr. Böhmer of Frankfurt was made with pencil by Karl Sandhaas, though we can't be certain exactly when. The institutional history of portraiture is interesting. In the 19th century, portraits became more accessible to the middle classes, reflecting a shift in social power. The rise of professional and intellectual classes created a demand for images celebrating their status. Portraits could reinforce existing hierarchies, but they could also be a means for individuals to assert their identity. This pencil sketch lacks the grandeur of oil paintings but captures the sitter's likeness in a more immediate, intimate way. To understand this portrait better, we might research the sitter, Dr. Böhmer, and the social circles he inhabited in Frankfurt. Art history reminds us that the meaning of an image is always tied to its specific cultural and historical moment.