Portret van Bolle Willum Luxdorph 1782 - 1818

This is Georg Haas's portrait of Bolle Willum Luxdorph, created sometime between 1756 and 1817. Luxdorph, a Danish civil servant and scholar, is shown in an intimate moment of study, a book open before him, his expression one of contemplative focus. The piece reflects the cultural values of its time, where intellectualism and scholarship were highly esteemed, particularly amongst men of a certain class. Luxdorph’s identity as a scholar is not merely a personal attribute, but a marker of social status and cultural capital. This image offers a glimpse into the private world of a man of letters during the Enlightenment. It invites us to consider the relationship between identity, knowledge, and representation. How does Luxdorph wish to be seen, and how does Haas, as the artist, contribute to this construction? The portrait seems to emphasize an emotional and personal side to academic life. The image asks us to consider what it means to be seen as an intellectual in a world undergoing rapid transformation.