Portret van Frederik Willem III koning van Pruisen 1797 - 1840

Vitus Jeremias Vockerot made this print of Frederick William III, King of Prussia, sometime around the turn of the 19th century. The print gives us a window into the visual culture surrounding European royalty at a time of immense social upheaval. As the French Revolution spread revolutionary ideas, monarchs across Europe sought to reinforce their authority through portraiture, controlling their image. Here, Frederick William is presented in profile, a familiar visual trope from ancient coinage, imbuing him with a sense of classical authority. Yet, dressed in military garb, he is also presented as a leader ready for battle. To understand this image fully, we can research the printmaking industry in Prussia at the time, and analyze how images of the King were circulated and consumed. By studying such historical records, we can better understand the social and political functions of art.