Joseph Adam, Count Wratislaw, in Turkish Costume 1842

Curator: Josef Kriehuber created this lithograph of Joseph Adam, Count Wratislaw, in Turkish Costume. The print is currently held in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: The cloak's materiality gives the impression of voluminousness and luxury despite its simple form. It hints at complex trade routes and production techniques. Curator: Precisely. The Turkish costume isn't merely clothing. It's a deliberate adoption of symbols, suggesting power, exoticism, even perhaps a transformation of identity. Editor: It makes me wonder about the act of dressing up, a form of play with the cultural expectations surrounding textiles and their representations of status. Curator: Costumes can be incredibly charged with meaning. The choice to wear "Turkish" attire carries considerable cultural weight, likely far more complex than mere fashion. Editor: Indeed, the print itself facilitates a kind of cultural consumption, turning the Count and his garments into an object to be viewed and traded. It is quite revealing! Curator: And this image remains a potent reminder that even seemingly simple portraits are rife with historical and symbolic complexities. Editor: A good reminder that how things are made always affects how they are read.