Portret van Johan Willem, keurvorst van de Palts 1678 - 1716

This is an anonymous portrait of Johan Willem, Elector Palatine, rendered in sanguine chalk. Portraits of aristocratic men during this period reflect very specific ideals about masculinity and power. Willem's armor, wig, and the jewels are performative displays of his status. Yet, if we think about the identity of the artist, we have to acknowledge the ways that class distinctions play out in the act of portraiture. The power dynamic is palpable; Willem commissions and the artist obliges. There is a tension between the need to project strength and virility, versus a reality in which his status as a man depends so heavily on these constructed symbols. The piece complicates traditional narratives around masculinity by revealing how fragile and dependent on visual cues identity can be. It asks us to consider how such performance relates to an individual's inner life. What is revealed, and what is concealed by such a portrait?