Portret van Christoph August Tiedge 1822

Editor: Here we have Johann Christian Benjamin Gottschick's 1822 engraving, "Portret van Christoph August Tiedge." The paper looks aged, but I find the neoclassical elements – like the framing and the stylized lyre with wings – surprisingly optimistic, almost celebratory. What strikes you most about this portrait? Curator: Well, putting it in its historical context, these portraits were immensely important in constructing celebrity and memorializing figures in the early 19th century. Engravings like these circulated widely, establishing a visual presence for Tiedge. Did he commission it, do you think, or perhaps his literary circle? Editor: That's a great question. I hadn't considered who initiated it. The inclusion of the lyre makes me think it’s related to his poetry, aiming to elevate him as an artist. Curator: Exactly! These portraits weren’t just about likeness; they were carefully constructed images to cultivate a specific public perception. Notice how the wings seem to allude to immortality, while the lyre is not just an object, but a signifier of art itself. What does that say about the public role of artists, or the desired image of the artist, at that time? Editor: It presents the artist as almost a heroic figure. Larger than life. Someone to be remembered. I see a real attempt here to immortalize Tiedge, almost deifying him through these symbolic visual cues. I now better appreciate how staged and purposeful such an image is, which contrasts to the feeling of the casual artwork at first sight. Curator: Precisely. We see the image and the impact the artwork has had to culture at the time and going forward! And thinking about who consumed these images gives us a glimpse into the literary culture of the era. These prints were vital tools to the construction of national cultural icons.