Portret van Johann Ulrich Gottlieb Schaeffer 1775 - 1829

Christoph-Wilhelm Bock made this print of Johann Ulrich Gottlieb Schaeffer using etching techniques. The portrait presents us with a set of 18th-century social codes. It was made in the German-speaking lands during the Enlightenment, when a new emphasis on reason and individualism was challenging traditional hierarchies. The rounded frame and the man's powdered wig and formal attire speak to established conventions of portraiture intended to convey status and respectability. Note the sitter's gaze, directed away, perhaps an indication of the self-possession expected of educated men at this time. This image of Schaeffer could have served as a calling card or frontispiece in one of his publications. To fully appreciate this print, historians might consult sources that shed light on Schaeffer's career and social standing. By examining such evidence, we gain insight into how images like this one both reflected and shaped the society in which they circulated.