Portræt af læge Johan von Berger 1781

J.F. Clemens created this portrait of Dr. Johan von Berger as an engraving. The formal qualities of this portrait, its emphasis on the face and careful rendering of fine clothing, conform to the conventions of portraiture in late eighteenth century Europe. But engravings such as this one also played a crucial role in the circulation of knowledge and ideas within the increasingly specialized world of medicine. Consider the status of the medical profession during this period. Physicians were becoming newly professionalized and were developing codes of conduct and institutions of training and accreditation. The modern research university was also taking shape, of which medicine was a part. Historical sources, such as university archives and publications by medical societies, can provide valuable insights into the visual and social culture of medicine in eighteenth century Denmark. Studying the history of art in relation to such evidence will enrich our understanding of art’s function in the wider world.