Portret van Johann Martin Fischer c. 1805

Johann Jakob Laurenz Billwiller created this portrait of Johann Martin Fischer in an unknown year using an engraving technique. Fischer was a professor of anatomy and sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts. Portraits during this era were often commissioned by or for the upper classes, solidifying their status and legacy, so we can assume Fischer had achieved certain recognition. Billwiller, as the artist, was probably dependent on such commissions for his livelihood. Consider the power dynamics at play. The gaze, the slightly elevated chin, all reinforce the sitter's importance. But it’s also worth pondering what isn't shown. What about the working class, whose labor and bodies were often studied, dissected, and sculpted? This image serves as a stark reminder of who was seen, celebrated, and given a voice in the art world, and whose stories remain untold. It invites us to consider the complexities of representation and the silent narratives that reside within the frame.