Portræt af Johanne Sophie Wleugel 1777 - 1844

This portrait of Johanne Sophie Wleugel was made by F.C. Camradt, a miniature painter, during the late 18th or early 19th century. Created at a time when society was obsessed with the miniaturization of everything, the artwork is an extraordinary demonstration of craftsmanship. Painted with watercolors on a thin piece of ivory, the delicate handling of the pigment gives life to the sitter’s features. The pearl-encrusted frame is a nod to the sitter’s social standing, and also to the great demand for luxury goods. The acquisition of precious materials and the delicate work of setting them was a hallmark of this era. Considered in its totality, the portrait speaks of the power of global trade and the expansion of social networks in Europe. It highlights the connections between raw material, production, and consumption, which characterized the shift from aristocratic to bourgeois society. By looking closely, we recognize that this is more than a pretty picture. It is a statement about the complex world in which it was made.