Portret van Johannes von Müller 1803 - 1841

This is Martin Esslinger's "Portret van Johannes von Müller", an engraving on paper made sometime in the early 19th century. Esslinger created this portrait during a period of significant social and political change in Europe. Think about the rise of nationalism and the intellectual ferment of the Enlightenment which fostered new ideas about individual identity and civic virtue. Here, Johannes von Müller is depicted in profile, a common style for formal portraiture, which reflects his status as a prominent theologian and professor. But what does it mean to capture a person's likeness, to preserve it, and to present it for public consumption? Consider how gender, class, and academic achievement intersect in this image. It is not merely a representation of an individual but also a statement about the values and ideals of the society that produced it. This portrait invites us to consider how historical figures are remembered and what aspects of their identities are emphasized. It is a window into a world where intellectual and religious authority shaped public life, inviting us to reflect on how we memorialize our own cultural figures today.