Portret van Gustav August Heinrich von Lamotte 1789

This print, by J.S.L Halle, portrays Gustav August Heinrich von Lamotte. Without a creation date, we must place this work within the context of Halle's lifetime, between 1719 and 1810, a period marked by significant social stratification. The image presents Lamotte in profile, a common pose for portraits of the era, which catered to the aristocratic class. The trappings of status and power are evident, marking Lamotte as a man of importance. Yet, consider the gaze, averted and perhaps suggesting a world of interiority beyond the external markers of identity. How might we, as viewers from a different time, interpret the visual cues of class, gender, and power embedded in this portrait? Does it serve as a celebration of status, or does it unintentionally reveal the isolation that such hierarchical structures can impose? What is the emotional register of power? How can one read the trace of experience within this traditional representation?