Portret van Friedrich Heinrich Ludwig van Pruisen 1762 - 1802

This is Meno Haas’s portrait of Friedrich Heinrich Ludwig van Pruisen. Though undated, the artwork provides insights into the construction of identity and power during its time. Notice the formal attire and the carefully styled wig, signaling status and adherence to aristocratic norms. These symbols of power are carefully constructed, reflecting the rigid social structures of 18th-century Prussia. Yet, the print is small, inviting a sense of intimacy. Haas, working in a society marked by strict social hierarchies, would have been keenly aware of his position relative to his subject. The act of creating this portrait becomes a negotiation, a dance between the artist's skill and the subject's authority. What does it mean to capture someone's likeness, especially when that person holds significant power over you? The portrait performs and reinforces a social hierarchy but maybe also subtly questions it.