Portret van Karl Friedrich Ernst Cocceji 1761 - 1780

Gottlieb Eckert created this aquatint portrait of Karl Friedrich Ernst Cocceji. Cocceji’s severe profile is framed by a laurel wreath, highlighting the importance of reputation and status in the late 18th century. The inscription "Amicis Amicum," or "a friend to friends," perhaps hints at the social and political networks that bolstered Cocceji's career as a high-ranking Prussian official. Note that the image presents a specific kind of masculinity: rational, composed, and dedicated to public service. It is a vision of leadership that deliberately obscures the personal and emotional life of its subject, presenting a figure of authority rooted in duty and reason. Consider this image in relation to contemporary ideas about governance, friendship, and the performance of identity. In what ways does this formal portrait invite us to reflect on how we construct and perceive authority?