Portret van Gisela Louise Marie, aartshertogin van Oostenrijk, en Rudolf Frans Karel Jozef, kroonprins van Oostenrijk-Hongarije 1862 - 1864

Ludwig Angerer produced this photograph of Archduchess Gisela and Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary sometime in the mid-19th century. It's a carefully staged image intended to project a certain image of the Habsburg dynasty. Note the props and setting; fishing rods, a mountain backdrop, and the children’s clothing all point to leisure and privilege, suggesting that the royals are intimately connected to the natural beauty of their empire. But more than that, there is a sense of carefully managed control. Royalty are presented as worthy of admiration and respect. To truly understand images like this we have to ask who commissioned them and why. Understanding the complex social structures of 19th century Europe and consulting archives like the personal papers of royal family members can reveal the full implications of visual choices. This in turn helps us understand the public role of art and the politics of imagery.