Dubbelportret van Johann Kaspar Lavater en een onbekende man 1768 - 1817

This engraving by Johann Heinrich Lips depicts Johann Kaspar Lavater and an unknown man. It was created around the turn of the 19th century in Switzerland. Lavater was a Swiss pastor and writer, famous for his work on physiognomy - the idea that one could judge a person’s character from their outward appearance. Here, the men are shown in an intimate pose, arm in arm, against a backdrop of nature, suggesting a connection between character, social standing, and the natural world. Such images gained popularity during the Enlightenment, reflecting a culture increasingly fascinated by science and a belief in understanding the human character. Lavater’s theories, while pseudoscientific to our eyes, offered a compelling, if ultimately flawed, framework for understanding social and cultural differences. To fully appreciate the historical context, we can consult texts from the period, considering the socio-political and intellectual trends that shaped not only Lips’ art, but also the cultural values of the time. This double portrait serves as a reminder of art's capacity to reflect and influence social perceptions.