Portret van Daniel Herzog 1722 - 1733

Martin Bernigeroth made this print of Daniel Herzog, a merchant from Gera, Germany, sometime in the early 18th century. The portrait is framed within an oval, set against a draped curtain, and placed on a pedestal, all visual devices to convey status and respectability in that era. Looking closer, the image creates meaning through coded visual cues. Herzog's powdered wig and formal attire signal his membership in the upper echelons of society. The meticulous details, achieved through engraving, speak to the values of precision and control that defined the rising merchant class of the time. To fully understand this image, we can turn to archival records – guild lists, trade statistics, and local histories. These resources help us interpret this artwork as more than a mere likeness; it's a reflection of the socio-economic forces shaping the individual and the society he inhabited. It’s through this kind of interdisciplinary research that we can truly appreciate the public role of art.