Portret van Carel Passé als Filips de Goede 1779

Richard Brookshaw created this print, "Portret van Carel Passé als Filips de Goede," in the late 18th century. It presents Carel Passé embodying Philip the Good, a figure from the play "Jacoba van Beieren." Brookshaw’s approach is intriguing: it captures the intersection of theater, identity, and historical representation. Passé, in his theatrical guise, is draped in the opulent garb of nobility, but this representation is filtered through the lens of 18th-century artistry and perception. The artwork operates within a context of social and cultural performance, questioning the line between the individual and the roles they play. It invites us to consider how identities, whether assumed on stage or inherited through history, are constructed and perceived. Brookshaw creates a space where performance, identity, and history converge, leaving us to reflect on the complex interplay between who we are and how we are seen.