Portret van Maximiliaan I Jozef, koning van Beieren 1780 - 1880

Curator: This engraving, dating somewhere between 1780 and 1880, captures the likeness of Maximiliaan I Jozef, King of Bavaria. The artist behind this portrait is Theodor Vincenz Poll, and it’s currently held here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It strikes me as rather formal, as royal portraits tend to be, but there’s something almost melancholic about his gaze, don’t you think? A sort of… weighty seriousness? Curator: That seriousness is perhaps tied to the historical context. Maximiliaan Jozef reigned during a turbulent period in European history, navigating the Napoleonic Wars and shifting alliances. Royal portraits, like this engraving, were powerful tools for projecting authority. This neoclassical aesthetic was really gaining steam as a visual language that evoked the grandeur of empires, what do you think? Editor: Definitely. He's got that little halo of shadows behind him, placing him somewhere between life and legacy, doesn't he? It also makes me think about who this image was for – prints like these weren’t exactly mass-produced back then. Curator: Exactly! Engravings played a vital role in disseminating images of rulers to a broader audience. While not "mass-produced" in the modern sense, they circulated amongst the educated and politically engaged elite, reinforcing the king's image and power. Editor: And that’s a good reminder to me that this small medallion is a performance in ink – maybe it captures his likeness, or maybe it is meant to impress folks who would’ve been far removed from Maximilian himself. But maybe that somber look has to do with the crown itself, what do I know? Curator: You never know! The subtle artistry in pieces like this is that even something rendered like a stock headshot is imbued with the tone of the day. It’s fascinating to consider its impact in a time of significant social and political transformation. It invites us to reflect on how imagery was, and still is, used to shape perceptions of power and leadership. Editor: A fitting image to pause and consider then – history captured in monochrome. It almost urges one to wonder what colors filled Maximilian's own perception of his rule.