Medaille met portret van Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall 1804 - 1859

This print shows the portrait of Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall, rendered in an oval medallion, framed by an ornate rectangular border. The anonymous artist uses varying shades of grey to construct a three-dimensional effect. The relief appears to emerge from the surface. Here, the play of light and shadow articulates the subject's features, giving the figure sculptural presence. The choice of profile view, reminiscent of classical portraiture, lends a sense of historical continuity and perhaps even timelessness to the sitter's image. The decorative border, with its repetitive floral motifs, serves as a frame, enhancing the central image. The artist uses this print to engage in the visual language of power and representation in the 19th century. The formal qualities of the print invite us to examine the cultural codes and artistic conventions through which individuals were memorialized and meanings were created. How does this portrait function within broader discussions about representation, identity, and the construction of historical narratives?