Oscar I af Sverige-Norge 1822 - 1885

Joel Ballin created this print of Oscar I of Sweden and Norway sometime during his career in the 19th century. The scion of a family of Jewish artists who immigrated from Germany to Copenhagen, Ballin’s biography sits at the intersection of religion, national identity, and artistic expression. Here we see a portrait of power, rendered in the rigid, formal style befitting a monarch. But what does it mean to depict power? We see the trappings of authority, from the ermine-lined cloak to the medals on his chest. Yet, there's also a strange vulnerability in his open palm. Perhaps Ballin, as an artist from a marginalized community, infused the portrait with a subtle tension. Is he celebrating the king, or questioning the very nature of kingship itself? The portrait invites us to consider who is represented in the halls of power, and who is left outside. It’s a question we continue to grapple with today.