Interieur met familie uit Istrië 1850s

Johann Wölfle made this print, "Interior with Family from Istria," sometime in the mid-19th century. It gives us an intimate look at a family scene, but also hints at the politics of representation within the Habsburg Empire. This image presents the region of Istria, now part of Croatia, through the lens of domestic life. The detailed costumes, the arrangement of figures, and even the inclusion of a turkey all contribute to a constructed image of regional identity. Such depictions were crucial for consolidating a sense of unity within the Empire. The print was made for the king, as the inscription at the top indicates. Consider the power dynamics at play: who gets to define a region's identity, and for what purposes? To fully understand this artwork, historical resources like census data, costume studies, and records of Habsburg policies toward its regions would be invaluable. Only then can we understand the complex interplay between art, identity, and imperial power.