Portret van Hans Carl von Winterfeldt 1780 - 1880

Editor: This engraving, "Portret van Hans Carl von Winterfeldt," is dated from 1780 to 1880 and attributed to Friedrich Wilhelm (I) Meyer. It's on paper, very light in color. It definitely captures a certain formality and power with that oval portrait framing. What can you tell me about it? Curator: It’s interesting to consider this image within the broader context of neoclassical art and its relationship to power. Notice the clean lines, the focus on portraiture – it all reflects a desire for order and rationality that was sweeping across Europe. Editor: Yes, I see the focus on order, but how does this tie into "power," exactly? Curator: Think about who is being portrayed here: a General Lieutenant. Images like this weren’t just about capturing a likeness; they were about constructing and reinforcing a specific image of authority. Consider how this engraving might have circulated – who was the intended audience, and what message was it meant to convey about the Prussian military and its leadership? It's all very constructed, a public image more than a personal one, wouldn’t you say? Editor: That makes sense. It wasn’t necessarily about reflecting reality, but more about building an image for political purposes. I hadn't thought of it in those terms before. Curator: Exactly. And in looking at how prints like this circulated, how they were used to promote certain ideologies and cement social hierarchies, we can really understand art's active role in shaping the political landscape. It is fascinating how those prints give another light in social perception from the subject. Editor: Definitely food for thought. I'll be keeping an eye out for similar examples going forward. Thank you!