Portret van George IV, koning van Engeland en Hannover 1782 - 1810

Govert Kitsen made this print of George IV, King of England and Hannover. Kitsen’s portrait invites us to consider the performance of power and the construction of identity within the British monarchy. Here we see George IV, then the Prince of Wales, adorned with symbols of status and authority, yet the image conveys a vulnerability, a humanity that exists beneath the surface. The choice to portray him in such a manner raises questions about the expectations placed upon those in positions of power, and the tension between public image and private self. What does it mean to capture the likeness of a man whose life is so thoroughly shaped by the gaze of others? This image is as much a study of the man as it is a reflection on the burdens and privileges of monarchy.