Jørgen Skeel 1692 - 1767

Jacob Folkema’s engraving of Jørgen Skeel offers a glimpse into the hierarchical structures of 18th-century Danish society. The portrait, surrounded by armaments and heraldry, places Skeel—Marshal of Denmark and Knight of the Order of the Sword—firmly within the military and aristocratic elite. Consider the visual language: Skeel's composed demeanor, the symbols of power, and the cherubic figures holding his coat-of-arms, all work to construct an image of authority and noble identity. Yet, what stories are absent? What experiences are marginalized in this celebration of power? The engraving invites us to reflect on the construction of identity through symbols of status, while questioning the narratives of inclusion and exclusion that such displays inherently create. It also reveals the emotional landscape of the desire for recognition and legacy within a society deeply shaped by class and social hierarchies.