Portret van Johann Wolfgang Jäger 1670 - 1737

This is Andreas Matthäus Wolfgang's portrait of Johann Wolfgang Jäger, captured in an engraving. The bewigged and draped figure is framed by ribbons, a visual language rooted in ancient celebrations of victory and honor. These ribbons—festive yet formal—are a recurring motif through time. We see echoes of them in ancient Roman triumphs and Renaissance paintings. Think of the draped fabrics in a Botticelli painting. These all speak to the same human impulse: to mark important figures with visual symbols of respect. Consider how these symbols evolve, yet stay the same. The festive ribbons on gift-wrapped presents elicit an emotional response. They are stripped of their original meaning and adapted to a new function, yet still engage our emotions. We feel an echo of that primordial impulse to celebrate. And so, the ribbon continues its journey through time, a testament to our enduring need to visually articulate meaning.