Frederick William III, King Of Prussia 2013

Kehinde Wiley created this portrait as part of his series "The World Stage: Germany," which examines the visual representation of power through the lens of race and cultural identity. Wiley, known for recasting historical portraits with contemporary Black figures, challenges traditional European art historical narratives. Here, the figure of a Black woman replaces Frederick William III, King of Prussia, against a backdrop of ornate floral patterns. This juxtaposition disrupts the conventions of royal portraiture, inviting us to question who gets to be memorialized in art and how power is constructed through representation. The woman's modern attire, tattoos and confident pose further subvert the original context, creating a dialogue between past and present, Europe and the African diaspora. Wiley’s work complicates the idea of a singular, fixed identity, revealing the fluidity and hybridity inherent in cultural exchange. The painting asks us to consider the emotional and social implications of seeing oneself reflected, or excluded, from the dominant visual culture.