Twee helmen 1759

Christian Bernhard Rode made this etching of two helmets sometime in the late 18th century. Rode was working during a time when artists were fascinated by classical antiquity, and this print reflects that interest through its subject matter and style. These aren't just helmets; they're symbols of power and authority. The elaborate plumes and classical figures adorning them speak to the visual language of leadership and the artifice around displays of power. Made in Prussia, this work enters into the visual culture around militarism which was developing at the time. Thinkers, artists, and politicians were all considering how a powerful Prussian state should be presented to its citizens, and to the rest of Europe. As art historians, we can look at the archives of the Prussian court and the writings of military theorists to understand how this image might have been received in its own time. We can ask what kinds of social and institutional forces shaped its production, and what kinds of statements it makes about the society that created it.