Portret van Hans Conrad Werdmüller 1653 - 1689

This is Conrad Meyer’s portrait of Hans Conrad Werdmüller, made sometime in the 17th century using engraving. Meyer was a Swiss artist working in a time of significant social and political change, influenced by the Reformation and the burgeoning scientific revolution. Here, Werdmüller is framed by text celebrating his prudence and fortitude, qualities of leadership during the tumultuous times of the Thirty Years' War. The portrait, while commemorating an individual, also reflects the values and ideals of the ruling class in Zurich. The crisp lines of the engraving lend a sense of formality and authority to the image, reinforcing Werdmüller's status. Consider how the visual representation of power is carefully constructed, not just through dress and bearing, but also through the considered arrangement of text and image. This portrait, while honoring Werdmüller, is also about solidifying the image of a ruling class during a period of great upheaval.