Portret van Volcher Coiterus 1669

This is Johann Friedrich Leonard's portrait of Volcher Coiterus, an engraving made sometime between 1633 and 1680. Coiterus, a Frisian physician, surgeon and anatomist, lived from 1534 to 1576. Portraits like this were powerful tools to shape public perception, often reinforcing the subject’s status. This image presents Coiterus as a figure of authority. The Latin inscription below the portrait emphasizes his multiple qualifications and his service to the Republic of Nuremberg, framing him as a man of science and civic importance. It caters to the ideals of the time, while subtly excluding other forms of knowledge or identity. Consider what isn't shown, what voices and perspectives are absent from this image. It prompts us to reflect on whose stories are told, and how dominant narratives are constructed.