Jakob Björk

Jakob Björk spent his life painting the Swedish elite from the 1750s to the 1770s, turning lace collars and powdered wigs into his daily bread. He was the go-to guy for nobles who wanted to look regal without looking like they were trying too hard. If you’ve ever stood in front of a portrait at Skokloster Castle and thought, “This person could judge me silently,” that’s probably Björk’s hand at work.

Look up his Valtakunnanneuvos Ulrik Scheffer, it’s the one where the subject’s coat buttons up like a row of tiny, judgmental eyes.