Portret van Bernhard von Lindenau after 1832

This print portrays Bernhard von Lindenau, and was made by Ludwig Theodor Zöllner, active in the early 19th century. The image immediately conveys status: his crisp white shirt, dark jacket, and the star medal denote a figure of importance. Looking deeper, we see the values of the time. Lindenau’s portrait reflects the rise of the bourgeoisie in 19th-century Europe. He is not portrayed with the trappings of royalty, but as a figure of accomplishment. His steady gaze expresses resolve. The soft rendering of the image suggests the influence of Romanticism, but there is also a sense of classical order in the composition. As art historians, we look to institutional records and social histories to fully understand such images. What were the institutions that fostered men like Lindenau? What did they value? The image can tell us something about individual identity, but also about the aspirations of a rising social class.