Portret van Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben 1828 - 1871

Christian Hoffmeister’s portrait of Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben, an engraving on paper, presents us with the image of a man who would become famous in the context of German unification. Hoffmann, a poet, is seen here seated, holding a walking stick. The print may well have served as a form of political propaganda. After all, Hoffmann wrote "Das Lied der Deutschen," which, with its call for unity and justice, would later become the national anthem of Germany. Consider the role of institutions here: engravings like this one, sold and circulated, helped to construct a shared national identity by distributing the image of this man and his words. The Rijksmuseum itself, as a national museum, plays a role in how we remember figures like Hoffmann. Examining Hoffmann’s personal writings, letters, and the historical context of German nationalism can help us understand how art participates in the making of a nation.