Fotocollage met portretten van Frans Karel van Oostenrijk, Frederik III van Pruisen, Wilhelm I van Duitsland, Helmuth Karl Bernhard von Moltke en Otto von Bismarck c. 1867 - 1872

This photo collage, now at the Rijksmuseum, features portraits of European leaders. The absence of a known artist invites us to consider the image itself as a cultural artifact, a symbol of power dynamics in late 19th-century Europe. The portraits, arranged in a formal, almost hierarchical manner, speak volumes about the era’s rigid social structures. We see leaders like Franz Joseph of Austria and Otto von Bismarck, figures who shaped the political landscape and whose decisions deeply affected the lives of countless individuals. Consider the emotional weight these images carried, both for those who revered these leaders and for those who suffered under their rule. The collage isn't just a collection of faces; it's a mirror reflecting societal values, historical narratives, and the complex interplay of identity, power, and representation.