Portret van Wenzel Ignaz Prasch 1761 - 1799

Carl Friedrich Lochner made this print of Wenzel Ignaz Prasch in 1761. During the 18th century, artists navigated a rigid social hierarchy while forging their identities. Here, Prasch is depicted in an intimate setting, seated at his desk. The softness of the print lends itself to a kind of comfortable and domestic portraiture. Yet, it is important to remember the political power that portraiture held in the 1700s. How could Prasch, as an artist, have maintained his individuality while also meeting the demands of his patrons? The level of detail and the subject’s gaze implies a complex relationship between the artist and sitter. Prasch's gentle but direct gaze seems to be acknowledging the viewer, while simultaneously remaining in his own private sphere. The print invites you to think about the ways in which artists negotiate their own identities through their work.