Albert Skeel til Fusingø 1753 - 1754

Jonas Haas made this print of Albert Skeel sometime in the mid-18th century. Here, Haas pictures Skeel, a Danish admiral and member of the King’s Council, in full armor. In the background, we see a naval battle raging. The image creates meaning through a combination of visual codes and cultural references, typical of 18th-century Denmark. Consider the historical associations of military prowess and aristocratic status, symbolized by Skeel's armor and weapons. Haas made this print during the Age of Enlightenment, a period when the relationship between the monarchy and its subjects was being renegotiated. Prints like this served to shore up the authority of the ruling classes, reminding the public of the power and prestige of the Danish state. Historians use prints and other visual materials as primary sources, interpreting them alongside written documents to build a more complete understanding of the past. By examining the social conditions that shaped artistic production, we gain insight into the politics of imagery and the public role of art.