Portrait en face 

Carl Hoff made this pencil drawing, "Portrait en face," in Germany, though we don’t know exactly when. The subject is portrayed in uniform, looking directly at us. The visual language of the portrait is quite formal. Hoff wants to convey the sitter’s social position, and the uniform is key to understanding that. Note the detail in the rendering of the cap and the shoulders of the jacket. In the 19th century, uniforms were not just clothing; they represented power, authority, and belonging. The rise of the middle class in Europe, along with the growth of state bureaucracies and the military, meant uniforms became more common. It’s interesting to consider, then, what a portrait like this was meant to do. Was it a status symbol? A way to demonstrate loyalty? By researching the history of uniforms in Germany, and studying the social history of portraiture, we can start to understand the complex meanings embedded in this seemingly simple image.