Portret van Michael Friedrich Lochner 1714

This is Martin Bernigeroth's engraved portrait of Michael Friedrich Lochner. The oval frame recalls ancient Roman portraiture, an interesting symbol of nobility and enduring legacy. The flowing wig, almost a mane, speaks of status, yet echoes the wild, untamed hair of mythological figures like the ecstatic Maenads. Consider, too, the lace collar—a delicate adornment suggesting refinement, yet when seen in isolation, it evokes the idea of a shroud or delicate wings. The subtle tension between these symbols reveals the complex psychological landscape of status and mortality. Such juxtapositions are not unique to this era; we see echoes of this in other artworks, across time and space, where symbols of power are intertwined with symbols of vulnerability. These are not conscious choices, necessarily, but rather, manifestations of a collective memory and subconscious anxieties.