Ubekendt mandsportræt 1767 - 1824

Andreas Flint created this undated portrait of an unknown man, using engraving. Consider how the image creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. This work, made in Denmark, features a man who is probably a military officer given the cut of his uniform. We know that Denmark went through various political and military upheavals in the late 1700s and early 1800s, including the Gunboat War with Britain. Was this man part of that conflict? Was he a volunteer, or did he serve because of conscription laws that were put in place at that time? Was he part of the social elite, or did the military offer a chance at social advancement? These questions begin to open up avenues of inquiry for the historian of art. By researching the military and social history of the time, we can understand more about the role this man played in shaping the history of Denmark.