Portret van Johannes Rebhan 1672 - 1717

Johann Adam Seupel created this print of Johannes Rebhan in the late 17th or early 18th century. It offers a glimpse into the world of academia and social status in the Holy Roman Empire. The image creates meaning through visual codes of the time. Rebhan is framed by laurel leaves and ribbons, symbols of honor and achievement. Note the inscription and coat-of-arms, and the details of his clothing. These elements speak to his position as a doctor of both civil and religious law, a senior member of the College of Law at the University of Strasbourg, and advisor to the princes and counts of the empire. It is self-consciously conservative in the way it projects power and authority, reflecting the hierarchical social structures of the time. To fully understand this work, we might delve into the university's archives, explore legal and political history, and study similar portraits of the era. The meaning of art always relies on understanding its social and institutional context.