Portrait of Johann Christian Brand 1793

Adam von Bartsch rendered this portrait of Johann Christian Brand in ink on paper. Note Brand’s profile and tightly curled wig, symbols of status within the eighteenth century, and, before that, the French court. The wig! Here, a signifier of power, fashion, and belonging to the elite, can be traced back through history, evolving in style and meaning. We see early forms in ancient Egypt, where wigs offered protection from the sun, and later, in the elaborate powdered wigs of the Baroque era, symbols of affluence. Across time, the wig has undergone a metamorphosis, reflecting socio-cultural shifts, yet continually resurfacing as an assertion of identity and social position. The image touches upon a deep-seated human desire to perform status. In an era of revolution, Brand’s self-fashioning is a poignant statement of continuity, tradition and belonging.