Portret van Albrecht, aartshertog van Oostenrijk en hertog van Teschen 1871

Carl Mayer created this portrait of Albrecht, Archduke of Austria and Duke of Teschen, through the technique of lithography. This lithograph provides insight into the visual culture of the 19th century, particularly how power and identity were constructed and disseminated through portraiture. Albrecht, a member of the Habsburg dynasty, is depicted in his military attire, laden with medals, symbols of his authority and status. However, portraits like these were not neutral records; they actively participated in the construction of the sitter's image, reinforcing existing hierarchies. The careful attention to Albrecht’s features and attire speaks to the importance of representing aristocratic masculinity in a way that projected strength and legitimacy during a time of immense social change. Consider how such images shaped perceptions of leadership and belonging during a period marked by both imperial stability and revolutionary upheaval.