Portret van George II Augustus, koning van Engeland 1754

Jacob Houbraken created this engraving of George II Augustus, King of England, in the 18th century. Born in Germany, George II inherited the throne during a period of significant social and political transformation. Houbraken's portrait presents George II within the visual language of power. The trappings of monarchy are all there: the elaborate wig, the fur-trimmed robes, and the regal bearing. Yet, this image emerges from a very particular moment in the history of British identity. George II, a German by birth, ruled over a nation increasingly grappling with its identity on the global stage. What does it mean to have a foreign-born ruler? How did this affect the cultural and social landscape of the time? This portrait invites us to reflect on the complexities of power, identity, and representation in an era marked by both imperial expansion and cultural exchange.