Collage van miniatuurportretten van Pruisische elite rondom miniatuurportretten van koning Wilhelm I en kroonprins Frederik III van Pruisen 1865 - 1888

This is a collage of miniature portraits of Prussian elites, surrounding portraits of King Wilhelm I and Crown Prince Frederick III, made by an anonymous artist, using photography and collage techniques. The material qualities of these photographs—their sepia tones and the sharp, almost clinical detail—speak to the rise of photography as a tool for documentation and control in the 19th century. The images, likely mass-produced, speak volumes about the era’s social and political climate. The portraits are arranged in ornate frames and meticulously mounted, indicating a deliberate effort to create a hierarchy, with the King and Crown Prince at the center. The act of collecting and arranging these images reflects the desire to create a visual representation of power and authority. This collage underscores the connection between artistic practices and the broader social and political forces at play. It reminds us to consider the material, making, and context that shape our understanding of art, and to question the traditional boundaries between fine art and other forms of creative expression.