Portrait of the Brickyard Owner Joseph Lager 

Friedrich von Amerling painted this portrait of Joseph Lager, a brickyard owner, sometime in the 19th century. Amerling was a prominent portraitist in the Austrian Empire, capturing the likenesses of the aristocracy and the rising bourgeois class, like Lager. This portrait offers a glimpse into the identity of a man who, through industry and ownership, found himself in a new social stratum. Lager's stern gaze and formal attire speak to his status and perhaps his aspirations. It reflects the shifting social landscape of the time, where industry began to yield power and influence. Amerling was skilled at capturing the subtle markers of class and character, revealing the complex interplay between identity and social position. This portrait not only commemorates an individual but also reflects the societal values and economic shifts of 19th-century Austria. It embodies the personal ambition and transformation that defined an era.