Der Notar Dr. Josef August Eltz mit seiner Gattin Caroline, geb. Schaumburg, und den acht Kindern in Ischl 1835

Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller painted this group portrait of the notary Dr. Josef August Eltz, his wife Caroline, and their eight children in Ischl. The painting shows us a well-to-do family enjoying a life of leisure, but what does it tell us about the social conditions that shape artistic production? Waldmüller was an Austrian painter, like many artists of his time he depended on commissions from wealthy patrons. This painting is a testament to the rising middle class in 19th-century Austria, the subjects are formally dressed to show the family's social position and cultural values. The landscape around them reflects the family's connection to nature and their ability to enjoy it. Historical sources about the Eltz family, along with Waldmüller's biography, would further illuminate the economic and social context in which this painting was created. This artwork shows how art can be understood as a reflection of the social and institutional context in which it was made.