Portret van Carl Christoph Sebastian Harsdorf von Enderndorf 1805

This is Christoph-Wilhelm Bock’s portrait of Carl Christoph Sebastian Harsdorf von Enderndorf. While the exact date is unknown, we can assume it was made around 1782. Harsdorf von Enderndorf was a senator in the free imperial city of Nuremberg. Bock, like many artists of the era, depended on the patronage of individuals such as Harsdorf von Enderndorf for his livelihood, so this portrait commemorates the senator's status. Note the stark profile, the meticulous rendering of his garments, and the cool gaze, together they construct an image of civic virtue. But who was entitled to such virtue? This image of power and authority speaks volumes about the hierarchies of eighteenth-century Europe. It serves as a reminder of the privileges afforded to men of rank, while others were systematically excluded from representation. This image thus raises critical questions about power, representation, and belonging.