Page - 87 - in Die Repräsentation der Habsburg-Lothringischen Dynastie in Musik, visuellen Medien und Architektur - 1618–1918

The Absent Empress 87 tions effectively communicated the legitimacy of Franz Joseph’s claim to authority, implied the secure future of the dynasty in Rudolf, and emphasized Elisabeth’s par- ticipation in Habsburg family life. The appeal of photomontage is especially apparent in comparison with actual group photographs. Court photographer Ludwig Angerer produced the only pho- tograph of Elisabeth with her Habsburg family (Fig. 3), but the 1860 composition conceals the relationships between the sitters. Franz Joseph stands to the far left of the frame, while his brother Ferdinand Maximilian hovers above the empress, his arms placed on either side of her shoulders. The camera did not clearly record Elisabeth’s features, perhaps because she was unable to remain motionless while simultaneously balancing the toddler crown prince on her lap and attending to the requests of the Figure 6: Anonymous, The Imperial Family, published by Joseph Bermann Kunsthandlung, c. 1863, photomontage.