Portret van Moritz August von Thümmel 1818 - 1832

This is a print of Moritz August von Thümmel, made by Christian Gottfried Zschoch in the late 18th or early 19th century. The work exemplifies how the conventions of portraiture were used to signify social status. The carefully modulated lighting, the sitter's composed expression, and the ruffled shirt all combine to convey a sense of dignity and refinement. This was a period of social and political upheaval in Europe, and portraits like this played a crucial role in defining and reinforcing social hierarchies. Prints like this one circulated widely, often commissioned by the sitter or their family. They provide historians with valuable information about social structures, fashion, and the institutions of art production and consumption in the 18th and 19th centuries. By looking at collections of these images, and considering the context in which they were made and viewed, we gain a richer understanding of the complex relationship between art and society.