Portret van Erdmann Neumeister op 85-jarige leeftijd 1757

This engraving portrays Erdmann Neumeister at the age of 85. Rendered by Christian Fritzsch, we see Neumeister, who lived from 1671 to 1756, a pastor in Hamburg, Germany, during a time of immense religious and intellectual change. Neumeister was at the vanguard of a new style of church music, which became known as the "Neumeister cantata". He integrated operatic and secular elements into sacred music, challenging traditional church music. His cantatas explored a personal and emotional connection with the divine. In doing so, they reflected broader shifts towards individualism. This portrait captures the complex relationship between tradition and innovation. Neumeister's traditional attire contrasts with his innovative approach to religious expression, as the engraving immortalizes a man who reshaped the boundaries of sacred music, inviting viewers to reflect on the evolving nature of belief and belonging.