Portret van Emanuel König 1703

This engraving portrays Emanuel König, a man of medicine and philosophy, captured with meticulous detail by Johann Jakob Thurneysen. The symbols framing König are rich with meaning. The inscription "AETAT XXXXIV" marks his age, anchoring him in time, while the surrounding text acclaims his wisdom and skill in botany, metals, and the arts. Consider the oval frame, reminiscent of ancient Roman portraiture. This shape has reappeared across centuries, symbolizing both enclosure and completeness, like the cyclical nature of knowledge itself. It echoes in Renaissance medals, Baroque paintings, and even modern photography. These symbols, embedded in the collective memory, tap into a powerful, almost subconscious understanding of status and intellect. The weight of history presses upon this image, a testament to how symbols evolve, yet remain tethered to their origins, resonating across time.