Portret van George I, koning van Groot-Brittannië 1701 - 1724

Jacob Gole made this print of George the First, King of Great Britain. Although undated, its context is steeped in the shifting sands of 18th-century European power. This portrait speaks to the constructed nature of identity, particularly royal identity. The heavy wig, the ornate crown, and the royal scepter are not merely accouterments; they are symbols of power carefully chosen to project an image of authority. However, beneath the veneer of royalty lies a more complex narrative. George I was German, and his ascension to the British throne was largely due to political maneuvering and religious considerations. One could consider the anxiety around foreign leadership and the performance of Britishness. The image leaves us wondering, how does one perform power, and how does that performance intersect with identity and belonging?