Portret van Georg Ludwig graaf van Leuchtenberg

Dominicus Custos created this portrait of Georg Ludwig, Count of Leuchtenberg, using engraving. Aristocratic portraits like this one reflect the rigid hierarchies of 16th and 17th century European society. The formal pose, elaborate costume, and surrounding Latin inscription all work to construct an image of power and legitimacy. Note how Georg Ludwig is presented in profile, a traditional pose evoking classical antiquity and the power of Roman emperors. Consider the implications of representing a person from a very specific social class and gender. What does it mean to immortalize this man in this way? What does it exclude? Whose stories are not told? It's important to remember that portraits such as this do not only reflect individual identity, they reinforce broader systems of power and inequality.