Portret van Karel II van Brunswijk c. 1829 - 1840

Ferdinand Bahmann created this portrait of Charles II of Brunswick using engraving techniques. Consider the presence of military regalia; the medals, the high collar, the braiding. These are not merely decorative. They're symbols, aren’t they? They speak to power, authority, and status, echoing back to ancient Roman displays of military might. Such symbols transcend mere representation. We see similar displays across centuries; think of Renaissance rulers donning armor, or even modern-day leaders in formal military attire. The visual language of power persists, almost as if imprinted in our collective unconscious. The very act of portraying oneself in such garb suggests a deep-seated desire to project strength and command respect. Does this portrait perhaps hint at the subject's anxieties? A need to assert dominance? The image resonates with the eternal human drama of ambition and the quest for recognition, forever looping through time.