Portret van Joachim Ernst von Brandenburg-Ansbach 1620

Lucas Kilian created this engraving, Portrait of Joachim Ernst von Brandenburg-Ansbach, around 1620. During this period, portraiture functioned as a powerful tool for establishing status and communicating one’s identity within the complex social hierarchies of the time. Here, Joachim Ernst is framed by symbols of power and lineage, from the coat of arms to the Latin inscriptions that denote his noble titles and virtues. Kilian masterfully uses the conventions of portraiture to assert Joachim Ernst’s position, yet the softness of the face provides an intimate glimpse into the person beyond the title. Consider how dress, gaze, and posture all contribute to the construction of identity in this portrait. This work can be understood as an intersection of the individual and the societal forces that shape one's place in the world.