Portret van Friedrich August von Anhalt-Zerbst 1756

Johann Martin Bernigeroth created this print of Friedrich August von Anhalt-Zerbst sometime in the 18th century. It captures the subject in a suit of armor, an emblem of power and authority during an era defined by aristocratic rule. Prints like these were a visual language, encoding status, lineage, and aspirations. Bernigeroth’s work reflects the conventions of representing nobility, but also hints at the complexities beneath the surface. What does it mean to portray an individual through the lens of power, especially when that power is inherited? And how does this image engage with broader questions of identity, performance, and representation in the 1700s? We might consider how portraits like this served to reinforce societal hierarchies. Yet, we might also be drawn to the subtle human qualities that emerge despite the rigid conventions. In looking closely, we can see an intersection of personal identity and the weight of social expectation.