Frederik III 1859 - 1860

Bernhard Olsen made this print of Frederik III sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. The image participates in the cultural and institutional phenomenon of historical commemoration. Frederik III ruled Denmark and Norway in the 17th century, so Olsen's image looks back to the early modern period from a later vantage point. Olsen was a stage designer for the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen. So, he understood how costume and pose could convey character. Note how Olsen deploys these theatrical devices to create the regal image of Frederik III. The king's elaborate clothing and haughty expression suggest he is a powerful ruler. But how accurate is this image? As historians, we should ask what sources Olsen used to create his image. And, what agenda might he have had in representing Frederik III in this way? The answers to these questions help us understand the complex relationship between history, representation, and power.