Portret van vermoedelijk Johannes II van Liechtenstein te paard 1894

This is a photograph by Josef Löwy, possibly taken in 1864, portraying who is believed to be Johannes II of Liechtenstein on horseback. The composition immediately strikes us with its symmetrical balance. The figure of Johannes II is centered, creating a focal point that exudes authority. The photograph’s sepia tones lend a classical quality, reminiscent of equestrian portraiture of the past, yet the photographic medium introduces a modern tension. The sharp lines of the rider's attire and the horse's tack contrast with the soft focus background, creating a semiotic interplay between precision and suggestion. The limited depth of field, a hallmark of early photography, flattens the image, drawing attention to the surface and the materiality of the print itself. Löwy's work functions as more than just a record; it is a crafted representation of power, carefully constructed through the interplay of light, shadow, and form. It invites us to consider the photograph not as a transparent window onto the world, but as a complex layering of signs.