King of Sweden 1860s

Mayer and Pierson created this portrait of the King of Sweden as a mounted albumen print. During the 19th century, portraiture was a powerful tool for constructing and disseminating identity, especially for those in positions of power. This photograph presents the King in the regalia of his office, reinforcing the symbolic authority associated with monarchy. The image must also be understood within the broader context of European royal portraiture, a genre rife with the visual rhetoric of power and legitimacy. What does it mean to see this figure frozen in time? Here, photography is not just a recording device, but a mechanism for producing a certain kind of historical memory. As you consider the image, think about how it shapes perceptions and reinforces societal hierarchies, both then and now.