Fotoreproductie van Goethe in Weimar door Wilhelm von Kaulbach 1865 - 1890

This is a photographic reproduction by Andries Jager of a painting by Wilhelm von Kaulbach, depicting Goethe in Weimar. Made in the Netherlands, likely in the late 19th century, this small photograph speaks to the social and cultural elevation of Goethe, turning the writer into a near-mythical figure of German national identity. Kaulbach's original painting likely served to reinforce Goethe's status as a cultural icon, and it is interesting to see how photography, a relatively new medium at the time, participated in this process of cultural canonization. The very act of reproducing and circulating this image via photography suggests an intention to disseminate Goethe's image to a broader audience. The photograph becomes an artifact of cultural memory, shaping how future generations perceive and understand Goethe's legacy. To truly understand this image, we can delve into the archives of the Rijksmuseum, examining exhibition records and correspondence to uncover the specific social and institutional forces that shaped its creation and reception.