Edward, Lord Thurlow 1782

Francesco Bartolozzi created this print of Edward, Lord Thurlow, using engraving and etching techniques. Thurlow, as Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, held a position of immense power during a time of significant social and political change. Consider what it meant to be a man in this period. Thurlow’s identity is carefully constructed through the symbols of his office: the elaborate wig, the ornate robes, and the regal bearing. These elements speak to the performance of power and the construction of masculine identity within the British aristocracy. The print offers a glimpse into the rigid social hierarchies of 18th-century Britain, while also inviting us to consider the personal experiences and beliefs of the man behind the wig. How did individuals navigate the constraints and expectations placed upon them by society? What tensions existed between public persona and private self? This print serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between identity, power, and representation.