Portret van Georg Engelbrecht 1697

This is Johann Christoph Boecklin’s portrait of Georg Engelbrecht, an engraving, that captures the visual culture of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. During this period, portraits were more than mere likenesses; they were carefully constructed performances of social status and intellectual prowess. Engelbrecht, framed by an oval border filled with Latin inscriptions, is presented not just as an individual, but as a figure of authority and learning. The elaborate wig, an essential element of elite male fashion, speaks volumes about the subject's position in society. These wigs, often costly and cumbersome, were potent symbols of power and belonging to a privileged class. In a world where appearances were meticulously crafted to convey one's standing, Boecklin's portrait provides a glimpse into the visual codes that governed social interactions and self-representation. What does it mean to perform authority, and how is that performance shaped by the materials and conventions available to us?