Portret van Johann Hübner 1698 - 1722

This is a portrait of Johann Hübner, made by Johann Kenckel, likely sometime around the early 18th century. It is a fascinating example of how the print medium served specific social and institutional functions in its time. Hübner was a rector, or headmaster, at a school in Hamburg, and this print would likely have been commissioned to commemorate his service. Note the Latin inscription around the oval frame, identifying Hübner's institutional affiliations. The visual codes of the portrait—his elaborate wig, his formal robes—speak to his status and authority. Prints like these circulated widely, reinforcing social hierarchies and celebrating civic leaders. Surviving documents from the period, such as school records and guild archives, can tell us more about the specific circumstances surrounding the print's creation and reception. We can ask, for example, how this image participated in the construction of Hübner's public image, and what role the institution of the school played in shaping artistic production in Hamburg at this time.