Portret van Lodewijk I, koning van Beieren 1814 - 1834

Albert Christoph Reindel created this print of Ludwig I, King of Bavaria, at an unknown date. It presents us with the carefully constructed image of a monarch. Consider how the image communicates power. The King is shown in his coronation robes with the symbols of his office: crown, scepter and royal throne. The setting is an idealized, classical architecture, alluding to the King’s patronage of the arts and sciences. Bavaria in the 19th century was undergoing significant transformation, and Ludwig sought to consolidate his authority through the construction of a powerful visual identity. But how are we to interpret this regal display? We might consult historical archives, letters, and official documents to better understand the social conditions of Bavaria. By doing so, we can understand how this image was used to reinforce, or perhaps even challenge, the existing social order. The meaning of such artworks are always bound to their original social and institutional context.