Ontmoeting van keizer Frans II met Karel Theodoor van Beieren, 1792. 1850 - 1950

This print from 1792 depicts the meeting of Emperor Francis II with Charles Theodore of Bavaria, and was created by an anonymous artist. The image captures a moment of political encounter set within the formal gardens, an important site for the construction of royal identity in the late 18th century. The composition, with its emphasis on the male figures, quietly speaks to the gendered dimensions of power and diplomacy. Women are present in the scene, but their roles are clearly circumscribed by the sartorial and social codes of the time. This image appears on the cusp of revolution, just before established hierarchies would be thrown into question. While the figures are frozen in a formal exchange, one can imagine the political and personal tensions swirling beneath the surface of this carefully staged encounter. The print serves as a visual record of a fleeting historical moment, but it also invites us to reflect on the enduring legacies of power, identity, and representation.