Johan Herman Wessel 1755 - 1791

This is a portrait engraving of Johan Herman Wessel, a Danish poet and playwright, created by Marie Jeanne Clemens in the 18th century. Wessel is depicted in profile, wearing a simple coat and cravat, his expression thoughtful and somewhat melancholic. The inscription below the image references Wessel's literary reputation, suggesting he was considered a writer of minor works. The engraving, now housed at the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst, is a valuable document of Danish artistic and literary culture of the period.