Portret van Antonio Fracassini 1757

This is Gottlieb Leberecht Crusius's portrait of Antonio Fracassini, made with etching. Fracassini, a physician, is framed in a style that reflects the 18th-century Enlightenment era. The image embodies the period’s emphasis on reason, science, and the celebration of intellectual figures. As a portrait of a man of science, Fracassini is presented with an air of authority and intellect, reflecting the social status and power associated with his profession during this period. The way he is styled, down to his powdered wig, is part of a performance of masculinity intertwined with class and professional identity. The portrait exists within a culture deeply stratified by class, and while Crusius portrays Fracassini with reverence, we might ask ourselves how this image participates in a broader narrative of power and representation. The image may invite reflection on the individuals and communities that were then excluded from such portrayals.