Portret van Ferdinand Sterzinger 1754 - 1781

Curator: This engraving is a portrait of Ferdinand Sterzinger by Johann Michael Söckler, likely created between 1754 and 1781. It’s tempera on paper, a fairly typical medium for portraiture at the time. What strikes you first about it? Editor: It's very linear, rigid almost. There’s this austerity that seeps through—maybe it’s the collar, the monochrome palette, but he seems quite reserved, wouldn’t you agree? Curator: I find a quiet strength, a composure reflected in those fine lines. Engravings demand meticulous craft—the artist is literally carving an image into existence. Söckler captured not just Sterzinger's likeness, but the precision valued in Baroque portraiture. Think about the labor! Editor: Precisely, that act of carving... I wonder about the implications of that. Was there a specific kind of tool or training needed to translate what Oesfle made into an engraving on tempera? This engraving on paper brings Sterzinger's face to a wider public through reproduction, not unique expression, shifting from pure art object to consumable image. Curator: You're touching on something essential—engravings democratized images. The intent behind this particular piece, it feels commemorative. Sterzinger, as the inscription details, was a theologian, a professor of law, a member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences, and director of historical studies, celebrated for his intellectual rigor and service. Editor: Exactly! To make something enduring through an industrial reproduction—what message were they hoping to send? By focusing on replicating, it raises a fascinating dialogue. Curator: For me it still remains quite special – Söckler allows Sterzinger’s inherent intelligence to shine through; one feels as though they are truly looking at him, instead of a replication. He certainly held much merit and importance for Söckler. Editor: True, he becomes more of a three dimensional subject to me through your words, despite being on paper. Curator: Considering our talk of the labor, material and emotion intertwined with this image, it makes me look with more reverence! Editor: Definitely food for thought - for both of us!