Portret van Maria Anna van Pruisen, geboren prinses van Anhalt-Dessau 1837 - 1868

This is Carl Mayer’s lithograph of Maria Anna of Prussia, a work that invites us to consider the construction of identity and the performance of status in the 19th century. Born into royalty, Maria Anna's image was circulated in a society deeply stratified by class and gender. The lithograph, with its delicate rendering of lace and pearls, presents an idealized vision of femininity and aristocratic elegance. Yet, we might also consider the limitations placed upon Maria Anna, whose life was largely predetermined by her birthright. Portraits like these served to reinforce social hierarchies but also offered a glimpse into the personal lives of those in power. Mayer's work prompts us to reflect on the complex interplay between individual identity and societal expectations. It is an image that is both intimate and distant, inviting us to contemplate the lives of women in the past and the ways in which their stories continue to resonate today.