The formal portrait of 1st Karlovac County Head. Josip Jakovčić (detail) 1994

Editor: This is "The formal portrait of 1st Karlovac County Head. Josip Jakovčić (detail)" by Alfred Freddy Krupa, painted in 1994 using oil paints. It’s a pretty straightforward portrait, but there’s something about the intense gaze that feels very…present. How do you interpret this work? Curator: This portrait, viewed through the lens of its historical moment, can tell us a lot about shifting power structures and identity formation in the wake of the Yugoslav Wars. Consider the subject’s role: the first Karlovac County Head. What does it mean to portray a local leader in 1994, during a period of immense social and political upheaval and nation-building? The portrait becomes a statement—about stability, authority, perhaps even a carefully constructed image of post-conflict leadership. Do you notice anything in the style that reinforces or complicates this? Editor: I see what you mean. It’s a very traditional style of portraiture. It seems like he's intentionally situating himself within a lineage of authority. Curator: Exactly. The realism and formality serve to legitimize and normalize his position. However, portraits are rarely straightforward representations. What is missing from the image? Who is included, and perhaps more importantly, who is excluded from this narrative of power? What socio-economic realities of 1994 Karlovac might be obscured by this presentation of leadership? Editor: So, looking at the painting isn't just about seeing the person, but thinking about who he represents, and what the artist and sitter want us to see. Curator: Precisely. And, as an activist, I urge us to look critically at these seemingly straightforward images, uncovering the narratives of power and resistance woven within. Editor: I will definitely think about that when I look at other portraits from now on! Thanks!