Portret van Johann Hieronymus Löffelholz von Colberg (II) 1714 - 1754

Georg Martin Preissler created this print of Johann Hieronymus Löffelholz von Colberg II using an engraving technique. The composition and the way the sitter is portrayed speak volumes about the social structures of its time. Made in the late 17th or early 18th century, possibly in Germany, the print shows a man of evident wealth and status. The fur coat, elaborate wig, and the interior depicted in the background, signal affluence and power. Notably, the portrait background features what appears to be a scene of charitable work. This was a common trope in portraits of the period, alluding to the sitter's virtue and social responsibility, whilst subtly reinforcing existing class hierarchies. The inscription below the portrait identifies the sitter and his titles, further cementing his place within the social order. Art historians rely on sources like genealogical records, period literature, and studies of fashion and social customs to fully understand the messages conveyed in portraits like this, and the role they played in reinforcing social identities.