Portrait of Anton Dreher 1895

This is Anton Scharff's diminutive portrait of Anton Dreher, likely made with bronze. Dreher was a 19th-century Austrian brewer whose name became synonymous with lager beer. Scharff, working in Vienna, was known for his medals and plaquettes, capturing the likenesses of prominent figures of his time. Here, Dreher is depicted in profile, a traditional pose evoking classical coins and aristocratic portraiture. This format speaks to the rising status of industrialists like Dreher, who amassed significant wealth and influence during the Industrial Revolution. While seemingly a straightforward tribute, the medal reflects the complex social dynamics of its era. Dreher's success, like that of many industrialists, was built upon the labor of countless workers, often laboring in harsh conditions. The medal can thus be read as a symbol of the economic disparities and social hierarchies that defined 19th-century Europe. It invites us to consider whose stories are told and whose are left out of the historical record.