Portret van Adam Weishaupt 1765 - 1836

This is Christoph-Wilhelm Bock’s print of Adam Weishaupt. The composition centers on a portrait of Weishaupt framed in an oval, seemingly suspended by a ribbon, which gives the piece a formal, commemorative air. The texture is achieved through delicate lines and stippling, indicative of the printmaking process, and there’s a contrast between the smooth face and the patterned background. Semiotically, the frame acts as a signifier, elevating the subject. Consider the context of portraiture during this period and the philosophical interests in representing the individual. Bock is working within established codes of representation. Yet, he also infuses the work with subtle details that suggest a more complex interplay between the individual and society. The oval frame is both decorative and symbolic, setting Weishaupt apart while still containing him within certain social and artistic conventions. This tension between containment and freedom of expression, visibility and constraint is at the heart of this piece.