Portret van Michael Richey 1730 - 1761

Johann Christian Gottfried Fritzsch created this print of Michael Richey, a well-regarded Hamburg professor, during a time of significant social stratification and intellectual ferment. As a scholar and teacher, Richey occupied a privileged space in 18th-century society, a position reflected in the formal composition and idealized portrayal. Yet, the print also provides a glimpse into the construction of identity during this period. The trappings of wealth and status—the powdered wig, the refined attire—speak to the importance of outward appearance in signaling social standing. Consider how the artist uses line and form to convey not just Richey’s likeness, but also his intellectual bearing and social prominence. It invites us to reflect on how the visual arts participate in shaping and reinforcing societal hierarchies.