Portret van Frederik de Grote 1731 - 1775

Richard Houston made this mezzotint, "Portret van Frederik de Grote" or "Portrait of Frederick the Great," sometime in the mid-18th century. It portrays Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, who was known not only for his military victories but also for his complex negotiation of identity. Frederick embodied the contradictions of his time: an absolute monarch who also championed enlightenment ideals, a military leader with a refined appreciation for the arts, and a man who navigated his homosexuality in a heteronormative world. Houston's portrait captures Frederick’s regal status but also hints at the personal struggles beneath the surface. He is adorned with symbols of power, yet his expression carries a hint of melancholy. It is a reminder that even those in positions of power are shaped by the cultural and personal contexts of their time. The portrait invites us to consider the multifaceted nature of identity, and the tension between public persona and private self.