Portret van Johann Friedemann Schneider 1716

This is Johann Georg Mentzel’s diminutive portrait of Johann Friedemann Schneider, made with engraving techniques. Notice the contrasting textures. The artist's formal arrangement leads us from the fine parallel lines forming a backdrop, to the intricate curls of Schneider's wig, and then to the smooth expanse of his face. This progression isn't just visual; it's a semiotic journey through 18th-century values. The wig, a signifier of status, is rendered meticulously, contrasting with the face, the supposed mirror of the soul. Mentzel uses the oval frame not just as a border but as a structural device. It contains and focuses our gaze, creating a sense of intimacy while reinforcing the sitter’s importance. The inscription below, listing Schneider's titles, anchors the image in the realm of intellect and academia. It also challenges the concept of portraiture: is this an image of a man or of a series of social roles?