Portret van keizer Jozef II op 30-jarige leeftijd 1771 - 1778

Nicolaus Mettel created this print of Emperor Joseph II at age 30, and it offers insight into the visual codes of power in late 18th-century Europe. Images of rulers functioned as propaganda, and this one is no exception. Joseph is framed within an oval as if he is a classical bust, while also surrounded by the trappings of monarchy and military strength. The Latin inscription emphasizes his role as “Emperor of the Romans,” connecting him to a long lineage of rule, and the image’s visual language is rooted in the conventions of portraiture used to convey authority. Born in Austria, Joseph II ruled as Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790, during a period of significant social and political change. As an enlightened absolutist, he sought to modernize the empire through reforms that emphasized reason and centralized control. Understanding art like this requires us to consider its relationship to the social and institutional structures of its time. By consulting historical records, biographies, and studies of the period, we can gain a more complete understanding of its meaning and impact.