Frederik den Store 1748 - 1831

This is J.F. Clemens’s delicate engraving of Frederik the Great, made sometime around the late 18th or early 19th century. At first glance, the portrait presents a study in contrasts through line and form. Notice how the artist uses fine, precise lines to define the contours of Frederik’s face, set against the softer, more diffuse shading of his elaborate hat. This creates a visual tension, highlighting the subject’s stern profile. The composition directs our gaze from the sharp angles of the hat to the detailed rendering of Frederik's features, which conveys his character and intellect. Consider how Clemens uses the semiotic language of portraiture to convey authority. The symbols of status, like the military attire and decorations, tell one story, but the vulnerability etched into Frederik’s face offers another. This dual representation invites us to question the nature of power and representation.