Portret van August van Pruisen 1789 - 1833

Meno Haas created this tiny portrait print of August van Pruisen in the late 18th or early 19th century. In this period, portraits functioned as social currency, circulating images of power and status. Haas, working in the Netherlands, captures August in profile, a classical pose evoking Roman emperors and reinforcing his aristocratic lineage. The print’s small size suggests it was likely intended for personal use, perhaps in a locket or as part of a collection. Its production reflects the growth of print culture and the expanding market for images among the middle classes. To fully understand this image, we would need to delve into the history of the Prussian monarchy, the role of portraiture in 18th-century European society, and the networks of printmakers and distributors who made these images available to a wider public. These resources help us see how art is not just about aesthetics, but also about the social and political contexts in which it is made and consumed.