Christian VII 1754 - 1811

Editor: This is an engraving of Christian VII, King of Denmark and Norway, created sometime between 1754 and 1811 by Andreas Stöttrup. The precision is incredible, almost photographic, though the overall effect feels quite formal and distant. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: I see a careful construction of power. The Baroque opulence blending with nascent Neoclassical restraint speaks volumes about the anxieties of the ruling class at the time. What is power in the age of enlightenment? It is interesting how the artist employs printmaking, which is considered democratic, to portray aristocracy. Editor: Anxieties? Can you expand on that? Curator: Absolutely! Consider the late 18th century context: revolutions are brewing, old orders are collapsing. The image presents Christian VII as a figure both divine – symbolized by the crown and wreath – and earthly, but is he truly in control, or is he a figurehead propped up by tradition? Consider too Christian VII's own mental health. Editor: I hadn't considered that aspect. So, you're saying the portrait inadvertently reveals the fragility beneath the surface of absolute power? Curator: Precisely. And think about the colonial implications. The portrait normalizes and glorifies a system built upon exploitation. The image’s elegance distracts us from this history of violence. The role of Denmark-Norway in the slave trade... It's all subtly erased, isn’t it? Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn't fully grasped. I see now how an artwork like this is far from neutral; it actively participates in shaping our understanding of history and power. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. Analyzing images like this one enables us to examine the cultural work they perform and the politics that undergird them.