Fotoreproductie van een geschilderd portret van koning Frederik Willem II van Pruisen te paard 1850 - 1900

This small photograph reproduces a painted portrait of King Frederick William II of Prussia, though both artist and date remain unknown. Equestrian portraits like this one were common ways for European monarchs to broadcast their power. The King, in military regalia, sits astride a rearing horse. In the background, a neoclassical building suggests the enlightened nature of his rule. We might ask, then, what kind of statement this image makes by reproducing the king’s portrait in a relatively new, easily disseminated photographic format? Photography's rise in the 19th century opened new possibilities for image-making and distribution. The traditional role of portraiture as a privilege of the wealthy elite faced disruption. Small photographs like this one enabled a wider audience to connect with powerful figures. Understanding its cultural impact requires archival research into photography’s evolving relationship to portraiture, power, and public access in 19th-century Prussia. Only then can we appreciate how it reflects and reshapes social norms.