Portret van Hans Kaspar Ott 1796

Johann Heinrich Lips created this portrait of Hans Kaspar Ott using etching and possibly some engraving. While the exact date of its creation remains unknown, we can place it historically within the late 18th century. Lips, a Swiss printmaker, captures Ott, a distinguished figure, within the visual language of the Enlightenment. Ott's gaze exudes the self-assuredness of a man of status. The delicate rendering of his powdered wig and the fine details of his clothing speak to the importance of appearances during this period. This image evokes the complex social structures of the time. Ott's identity is wrapped up in his lineage, as indicated by the inscription which denotes him as the son of a tribune, the senator of Zurich, and the prefect in Birmenstorf and Veorf. This portrait invites us to consider the ways in which identity was constructed and communicated through visual representation in the 18th century.