Portret van Andreas Hadik von Futak 1749 - 1796

This is an engraving of Andreas Hadik von Futak made by Johann Ernst Mansfeld in the late 18th century. Hadik was a high-ranking military officer in the Habsburg monarchy, and this portrait is a visual statement of his power and status. The image creates meaning through several visual codes. Hadik is dressed in elaborate military attire and the sash of a high-ranking order. This is intended to convey his importance and authority within the imperial hierarchy. Consider the Habsburg Empire at this time. It was a highly stratified society, where one’s position was determined by birth, wealth, and service to the state. Portraits like this reinforced those social hierarchies. To truly understand this image, we might turn to sources such as military records, genealogical databases, and studies of court culture. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.