Portret van August Quirinus Rivinus 1723 - 1799

This is Johann Friedrich Rosbach's portrait of August Quirinus Rivinus, made using etching. Rivinus, a prominent figure in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, was a botanist and physician. Portraits in this era were more than just depictions, they were carefully constructed statements of identity and status. The elaborate wig, the formal attire – these weren't just fashion, they were symbols of Rivinus's position in society. But there’s also a tension here. While the portrait aims to convey authority and intellect, there’s an undeniable artifice to it all. Consider how class and status are communicated through clothing and posture. It invites us to reflect on the role of representation in shaping perceptions of power and knowledge. What does it mean to perform an identity? How do we negotiate the space between the personal and the public? These are questions that this portrait, with all its historical weight and artistic flair, brings to the fore.