Portret van Eduard Totleben Possibly 1858

Carel Christiaan Antony Last created this portrait of Eduard Totleben using lithography in 1858. The print’s subdued palette and precise lines evoke a sense of restrained formality. The composition emphasizes structure and order, with the subject centered and presented in a symmetrical pose, consistent with traditional portraiture of the period. Totleben’s stern expression conveys a sense of authority and gravitas, reinforced by his elaborate military attire adorned with medals and epaulettes. These visual elements function as signs of his status, reflecting the cultural codes of military rank and honor. However, the artist's medium of lithography destabilizes the conventional, suggesting an engagement with new forms of representation. This challenges fixed notions, prompting a re-evaluation of representation itself. The print’s overall effect is a statement about identity and representation within the established social and political order.