Portret van Johannes Wülfer before 1737

This is Bernhard Vogel's monochrome print of Johannes Wülfer. The oval composition focuses our eye on the sitter who appears to be in mid-thought. He is framed by an inscription that celebrates his intellectual status, reinforcing a sense of scholarly prestige. Vogel's formal arrangement uses contrasting textures and forms. Notice how the soft, cascading curls of Wülfer’s wig sharply contrast with the rigid, pleated ruff around his neck. This juxtaposition draws attention to the face and highlights the sitter's intellectual character, a key semiotic sign of the period. The books in the background allude to Wülfer’s philosophical and geographical pursuits. The structural clarity of the print, combined with its symbolic details, invites us to consider how portraiture in this era functioned as a carefully constructed representation of identity and social standing. This approach destabilizes a straightforward interpretation, prompting a deeper reading of the visual and cultural codes at play.