Portrait of Karl Ludwig Johann 1780 - 1827

Curator: Let's spend a few minutes discussing Jean-Baptiste-François Bosio’s "Portrait of Karl Ludwig Johann," created between 1780 and 1827. The artwork is on display here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It employs various techniques, including etching, pen, and intaglio, reflecting a fascinating blend of artistic styles. Editor: Oh, my goodness, he seems awfully serious! Very formal, almost as if he knows he is on display even in the artwork itself, and also a bit haughty! Is that a cannon he's leaning against? So, quite serious then, a leader or something. Curator: Indeed. It reflects the prevailing styles of the time. The man is indeed Karl Ludwig Johann, probably of nobility or a military leader—likely a commentary on the construction of masculine identity within that socio-political framework. The inclusion of the cannon and sword subtly emphasizes a clear relationship with war. Editor: It’s fascinating how much information about status, and I guess, power, is wrapped up in clothing! The way his garments practically scream "authority". Did it ever feel ridiculous to be presented in such a way? Maybe if I was painted I would like to be in pajamas, sipping tea. But here it tells us so much. Curator: The artwork itself acts as a historical record. It tells us as much about 19th-century ideals as it does about this particular man. Who decided on these ideals, that's always a useful angle of critique. Also, notice the detail and artistry in the depiction, very well-executed. Editor: There's an undeniable precision there, that comes from skill, study, I imagine a life of constant practice. You look at the way shadows are captured, even within what might feel to the contemporary viewer as a stiff setting, there is still emotion present, in the detail! It almost feels alive. Curator: I think, as an object of Neoclassical artwork, we can consider how notions of power, war and aristocracy were depicted through a specific lens, influencing societal norms. What does the glorification of those identities do in the grand scheme of our societal narratives? Editor: These portraits sometimes feels to me like looking in time, or touching it almost...to consider the hands, hearts and eyes of the makers, but also those subjects immortalized! So much can be gained looking thoughtfully at what they can reveal. Curator: Absolutely. Thank you for sharing such a beautifully sensitive reaction to it, adding valuable layers to our experience with the portrait!