In strict profile with uniform, fur collar, and order, the portrait of the young duke displays classic elements of the ruler’s portrait. This is contradicted by the hairstyle: Carl August dispenses with the wig and has his hair cut short. The “Schwedenkopf” was a political statement. Its wearer was setting an example against the traditional forms of the ancien régime. Especially in the early years of his rule, the young duke, together with his confidant Goethe, openly espoused the ideals of Sturm und Drang.