Stående herre med kostume fra ca. 1770. Struensee? 1807 - 1808

Nicolai Abildgaard sketched this standing gentleman, possibly Struensee, around 1770. The man's posture, with arms crossed, speaks volumes about the era's rigid social codes. Consider how the crossed arms reappear throughout art history, from ancient Egyptian depictions of royalty to Renaissance portraits. Often, this gesture signifies authority or self-possession. Yet, here, it appears almost defensive. The Age of Enlightenment was one of reason, but also of profound social anxiety. This tension is palpable in the image. Does this pose express confidence, or is it a mask concealing vulnerability? Such symbols do not exist in a vacuum; they evolve, carrying the weight of history, constantly shifting in meaning. The collective memory, so deeply ingrained in our subconscious, shapes our interpretation and appreciation of these recurring motifs.