Portret van Gustav Georg Tetzel 1733

This is Georg Martin Preissler's portrait of Gustav Georg Tetzel. Though we don't have a date for the work, the clothing and presentation of the subject places it firmly in the 18th century. Portraits like these were often commissioned by the sitter, and served to bolster his position in a highly stratified society. Tetzel's dress and wig are not simply fashion statements. They signify his wealth and status. His calm, confident gaze and the symbols around him assert his place in the social and political order of the time. But what does it mean to present an image of power? Consider the labor and resources required to produce such a portrait. How does this image contribute to the narrative of power and privilege that defined 18th-century European society? This portrait of Gustav Georg Tetzel invites us to consider the complex interplay between identity, representation, and the socio-political context in which they exist.