Portrait of Schar 

Carl Hoff sketched this "Portrait of Schar" in graphite on paper; it now resides in the Städel Museum. The man depicted is wearing a uniform and a hat; his hand rests thoughtfully at his neck. Portraits have a public role to play. They are tools that can either enforce or undermine existing social hierarchies. We might ask: who was Schar, and why did Hoff choose to sketch him? Was Hoff commissioned to make this portrait, and, if so, for what purpose? Was it meant to celebrate Schar or something else? These are questions of institutional history. To understand this sketch, we need to research the social and political context in which it was made. By delving into historical records, letters, and other documents, we can uncover the story behind the image.