Portret van Johann Dietrich Schaffhausen 1691

Editor: So, here we have a portrait of Johann Dietrich Schaffhausen, dating back to 1691, engraved by Pieter van den Berge. It feels very...formal. Dignified. All that baroque detail! What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: Oh, the weight of it, definitely! You know, portraits of this era, especially engravings, often feel like solidified social positions. Van den Berge captured not just a likeness, but an idea – Schaffhausen as a pillar of Hamburg society. Do you feel that intense gaze? He wants to be remembered! Editor: Absolutely. And that wig! It's almost cartoonish in its size. Is there something significant about that, or is it just period style? Curator: Both! Think of it as visual shorthand. A huge wig meant status, wealth, power. It screams, "Look at me, I’m important!" It's interesting how artists use objects to portray a man’s value and position in the community. Notice the quality of his lace, the details in his robe? Editor: I see what you mean, every little bit communicates a certain message. All these signifiers pointing to how Schaffhausen wished to be remembered. Fascinating! It does make you wonder what details future artists will use to portray *us*. Curator: Precisely. It all makes you think about performance, doesn't it? Life's a stage, and this portrait is Schaffhausen’s carefully curated performance frozen in time! Makes me wonder if I'd want to be engraved...