Anna Cathrine von Passow 1750s

Jonas Haas created this engraving of Anna Cathrine von Passow, amidst the backdrop of 18th-century Danish society, where portraiture served as a powerful signifier of status. Here, Anna Cathrine is encircled by an oval frame adorned with roses, she is depicted holding a quill. Her gaze is direct, suggesting a self-awareness that transcends the typical objectification often seen in portraits of women from this period. The attention to detail in her dress, with its delicate lace trim, speaks to her position within the Danish elite, yet her posture, the way she holds the quill, hints at intellectual pursuits, marking her as more than a mere ornamental figure. The engraving invites us to consider the nuanced ways in which women of the time navigated the expectations placed upon them. It reflects both the societal constraints and the personal agency they exercised.