Forarbejde til et af hovederne til stikket: Frederik d. Store rider hjem efter en revy ved Potsdam 1788

J.F. Clemens sketched this preparatory study of Frederick the Great's head, likely in the late 18th or early 19th century. Look at the cocked hat he wears. In this era, such a hat denoted military rank and authority. Yet, the hat is more than mere attire; it’s a symbol laden with historical weight. Consider its echoes in Roman military headgear, emblems of power, or even the Phrygian cap donned during the French Revolution, a marker of liberty and rebellion. The hat persists as a visual shorthand for leadership and command, forever altered. Notice how Clemens has captured a certain stoicism in Frederick's gaze, a hint of the burdens of leadership etched onto his face. Just as the hat has evolved, so too has our understanding of authority, constantly reshaped by the currents of history and the subtle interplay of power and perception. This cyclical procession of symbols speaks to how emblems resurface and evolve across time.