Portret van Friedrich Wilhelm III 1780 - 1833

Meno Haas produced this print of Friedrich Wilhelm III. Portraits of powerful figures act as cultural symbols, and this portrait is no exception. Here, Haas presents the Prussian monarch in profile, a visual code that associates him with the tradition of classical rulers. It’s an image crafted to project authority and nobility. Made in a time of social upheaval in Europe, think about the French Revolution, prints like these played a crucial role in shaping the image of the monarchy and its institutions. They were a means of conveying power, legitimizing the prevailing social order, and reinforcing class structure. In analyzing this print, we can look at the history of portraiture, Prussia's political history, and the printmaking industry. This helps us understand not just the artwork, but also the social and institutional conditions that shaped its creation.