Portræt af læge Johan von Berger 1781

This is J.F. Clemens’s portrait of physician Johan von Berger, an engraving with precise lines forming a likeness framed by an oval. The composition invites immediate focus on the face, rendered with meticulous detail. The use of line and shading creates depth and texture, simulating the materiality of fabric in Berger's coat and the soft curls of his wig. The horizontal lines in the background flatten the space, contrasting with the three-dimensionality of the figure, emphasizing the portrait's symbolic function over realism. This tension between flatness and depth prompts reflection on how we perceive and construct identity. The oval frame acts as a visual signifier, suggesting containment and control, typical of Enlightenment portraiture, while the slightly asymmetrical signature at the bottom destabilizes the rigid formality. This functions as a subtle reminder of the artist's hand, disrupting any illusion of pure, objective representation.