Fotoreproductie van een geschilderd portret van Fritz Reuter door Ernst Hader 1879

This is a photographic reproduction by Sophus Williams of a painted portrait of Fritz Reuter by Ernst Hader. Imagine the cultural landscape of 19th-century Germany, a time of burgeoning nationalism and romanticism. Reuter, a well known author, embodies the everyman through his literary characters, which are rooted in the northern German region. The painting, by Ernst Hader, memorializes the author. Williams' photographic reproduction democratizes Hader's painted portrait, making the image of Reuter accessible to a broader audience. In doing so, it situates Reuter within a growing cult of celebrity. The photograph enables a dissemination of his image that helps to cement Reuter’s legacy. Consider how new technologies mediate our relationship with public figures. This portrait speaks to the power of representation in shaping cultural identity and collective memory.