Portret van Frederik III de Wijze, keurvorst van Saksen 1818

Moritz Steinla created this portrait of Frederick III the Wise, Elector of Saxony, using etching and engraving techniques. The composition centres on the subject's upper body, framed against a dark, neutral background that throws the figure into relief. Steinla has rendered the textures of Frederick’s fur-lined garments with meticulous detail. Look closely at how the light plays across the surfaces, creating a tactile contrast between the softness of the fur and the firmness of the face. The formal qualities here extend beyond mere representation. The visual emphasis on texture and detail invites us to consider the material culture of Frederick's time. The very act of portraying the Elector in such elaborate attire can be seen as a semiotic assertion of status and authority. This portrait offers a glimpse into the complex interplay between power, representation, and material display in 19th-century European society.