Portret van Karel van Brunswijk-Wolfenbüttel 1785 - 1837

Charles Howard Hodges produced this portrait of Karel van Brunswijk-Wolfenbuttel, probably around the late 18th century, using the technique of mezzotint. It's an image deeply embedded in the social and political structures of its time. Consider the visual codes at play. The elaborate wig, the ornate medal, and the formal attire all signify status and power, reflecting the hierarchical society of the late 1700s. This was a period defined by aristocratic privilege and rigid social stratification. As a mezzotint, this portrait would have been relatively accessible, suggesting an effort to disseminate the image of the ruling class, reinforcing their authority through visual representation. To fully understand this work, we can research the Duchy of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel, its rulers, and its relationship to other European powers. How did the institutions of monarchy shape artistic production and consumption? The meaning of this portrait, like all art, is contingent on its social and institutional context, something we, as historians, strive to uncover.