Portræt af F. D. Voss 1835

Georg Hoffman made this portrait of F.D. Voss as a lithograph. It is currently located at the Statens Museum for Kunst. Looking at Voss's military attire, complete with epaulettes and sash, we can assume this portrait served to solidify his position within the military and society. Images such as these functioned as important symbols of power and status, reinforcing existing hierarchies. It was created in Denmark. Lithographs like this were often commissioned by or for the sitter, functioning as a type of social currency within elite circles. The institutional history of portraiture is one of power and patronage. Who gets to be represented and how, speaks volumes about the social and political climate. To understand this work better, looking into the military history of Denmark and the role of portraiture in 19th-century Danish society would be crucial.