Portret van Wilhelm I van Duitsland als koning van Pruisen 1862

Carl Mayer created this portrait of Wilhelm I of Germany as King of Prussia using etching. Looking at this portrait, we must consider the historical context of 19th-century Prussia, marked by rising nationalism and militarism. Wilhelm I, through his leadership, was a central figure in this transformative period, particularly in the unification of Germany. Mayer's portrait captures Wilhelm in his military attire, laden with medals, thus embodying power and authority. The portrait serves not just as a depiction of a ruler, but as a symbol of a shifting European order, one in which national identity and military strength were being consolidated. It is, in many ways, a reflection of the era's values and power dynamics, marking a moment in history where leadership, identity, and nationhood were being redefined.