Christian V 1760

Jonas Haas made this engraving of Christian V sometime between 1718 and 1775. The print gives us insight into the construction of royal identity during the 18th century. Christian V, King of Denmark and Norway, stands adorned in symbols of power: his elaborate feathered headwear, a regal cape, and the garter around his knee. Yet, it's worth considering how such images functioned within a society marked by deep class divisions. Prints like these were instrumental in shaping public perception of the monarchy, carefully crafting an image of authority and grandeur. Consider the implications of disseminating images of power. Who had access to them, and what impact did they have on the collective imagination? While Christian V may have been seen as divinely ordained, Haas’s rendering would have influenced the emotional connection between the King and his subjects.