Gotthilf Heinrich von Schubert c. 19th century

Editor: This is Paul Barfus’s portrait of Gotthilf Heinrich von Schubert. It feels very formal. What do you see in this piece, in terms of its historical or social context? Curator: This portrait speaks to the power dynamics inherent in representation. Who is being memorialized and why? Schubert, a man of science, is presented with a stoic authority, but whose gaze are we meant to meet? Are we invited into a dialogue, or simply meant to observe and accept? Editor: That makes me think about the intended audience. Curator: Exactly. Reflecting on the power of portraiture challenges the canon, inviting critical engagement with historical narratives and the figures they elevate. It prompts us to question whose stories are told and whose are silenced. Editor: I hadn't considered that silence before. Curator: Thinking about those silences opens up new ways of interpreting the portrait.