Portret van Karel II van Brunswijk c. 1829 - 1840

This is a portrait of Charles II of Brunswick, made by Ferdinand Bahmann in the 19th century using an engraving technique. The image’s visual codes speak volumes about the sitter’s status. Charles II is depicted in formal military dress. This was a time of immense social change and the print served to project an image of power in a traditional style for a traditional aristocracy, though this particular member of it was known to be quite eccentric. It is interesting to note the institutional history of the House of Brunswick, a long-standing royal house of Europe, as it was affected by social changes and political movements such as nationalism and liberalism. Historians rely on archival materials and institutional records to build an accurate social context for art like this. This helps us to understand art not as existing in isolation but as cultural objects shaped by social and institutional forces.