Johann Albert von Mandelslo 1647

Christian Rothgiesser created this engraving of Johann Albert von Mandelslo sometime around 1644. Mandelslo, whose name is emblazoned around the portrait, was a 17th-century German adventurer and travel writer. The portrait is framed by an oval that contains his name and dates of birth and death, and presents Mandelslo as an important historical figure. Below the portrait, the inscription reinforces this image, referring to him as a hero comparable to Alexander the Great due to his travels. Seventeenth-century Europe was a time of exploration, colonization, and the rise of global trade networks. Travel writing became a popular genre, offering readers a window into distant lands. Mandelslo's own accounts offered Europeans descriptions of Persia, India, and other parts of Asia. Understanding this historical context allows us to see how institutions such as publishing houses and the literary marketplace shaped the production and reception of these travel narratives. To understand this image better, we can turn to historical records, travelogues, and studies of early modern European encounters with the world.