Johan Georg Fock 1834 - 1866

J. Bunson created this print of Johan Georg Fock some time between 1819 and 1850, and it’s now held at the Statens Museum for Kunst. Images like this one functioned within a social economy of portraiture. Who got their portrait made, and how, was closely tied to social status and institutional power. Fock’s ruffled collar, dark suit, and medal denote a man of status, most likely a member of the clergy or civil service in 19th-century Denmark. Prints like this often circulated among elites, reinforcing social bonds and marking positions within a hierarchy. The clean lines and formal pose lend the image a sense of authority. Bunson was a skilled engraver who understood the power of visual codes in shaping public perception. To fully understand this image, we’d want to delve into the social history of Danish portraiture, looking at who commissioned such works and how they were displayed. Only then can we see how this image reflects and reinforces the social structures of its time.