Portret van de legeraanvoerder Frederik III, Rijngraaf van Salm 1787

Daniël Veelwaard created this print of Frederik III, Rijngraaf van Salm, sometime around the late 18th or early 19th century. The Rijngraaf, a military leader, is presented in profile, encircled within an oval frame, his achievements inscribed below. Consider the culture of portraiture at this time, particularly how it functioned for men of status. What does it mean to have your likeness reproduced and circulated? How does this intersect with the Rijngraaf’s identity, as a man, as a leader, and as a member of the aristocracy? Note the details of his powdered wig and formal attire, signaling a specific class and set of social norms. Veelwaard’s print invites us to consider the relationship between image, power, and identity in a period defined by social hierarchies and revolutionary change. It reflects the desire to immortalize status, while offering us a window into the complexities of that era.