Silhouette of Graf Coreth 1784 - 1834

This is Wilhelm Ackermann's "Silhouette of Graf Coreth", a detailed engraving on paper. The stark black silhouette of Graf Coreth contrasts with the intricately decorated frame and background, immediately drawing our attention. The composition is structured around the oval frame which contains the profile, creating a sense of enclosure and focus. The use of the silhouette flattens the subject, reducing him to a set of lines and curves that define his form. This abstraction prompts us to consider the essence of representation itself. The elaborate decorations, including ribbons, garlands, and ornate flourishes, add layers of complexity. They serve as cultural codes which reflect the status and taste of the sitter. Ackermann challenges fixed meanings. The silhouette, as a representation, is both present and absent. It signifies the individual yet lacks the depth and detail of a traditional portrait. This tension between presence and absence, reality and representation, invites us to question the nature of identity and representation.