Portret van Friedrich Wilhelm III 1775 - 1833

Jean Bernard created this portrait of Friedrich Wilhelm III using a technique of etching and stipple engraving. The portrait offers a glimpse into the rigid structures of power and identity in late 18th and early 19th-century Europe. Friedrich Wilhelm III is presented here through the visual language of aristocracy: the powdered wig, the elaborate military attire, the symbols of authority. Yet, the overall effect is less about strength and more about a kind of ornamental display. What does it mean to perform power, to dress it up in lace and finery? Consider how gender, class, and status intersect in this image. The king's identity is carefully constructed through clothing and posture. It is a performance of masculinity and authority deeply rooted in his social position. The portrait invites us to reflect on the ways in which identity is constructed and performed. It also highlights the emotional distance between ruler and ruled, reminding us of the human cost of maintaining social hierarchies.