Illustration 1752 - 1833

This illustration was made by Meno Haas in Berlin in the late 18th or early 19th century. It depicts a scene of apparent injustice or betrayal. A chained figure in armor is forcibly brought before a king on his throne, while courtiers look on with varying degrees of concern or approval. The image is charged with social and institutional significance. Royal power is symbolized through the trappings of monarchy – the throne, crown, and ermine robes. In contrast, the chained figure represents the individual subjected to the state’s authority. The artist uses visual codes like light and shadow to direct our sympathy. To understand the illustration's meaning, historians might research the political climate in Berlin at the time, as well as the conventions of theater, literature, and visual culture. By considering the social context, we can better interpret how this image may have served to reinforce or critique the institutions of power in its day.