Daniel zum Jungen 1640 - 1678

Martin Hailler made this portrait of Daniel zum Jungen as an engraving. The lettering around the portrait identifies Daniel as a representative of the free imperial city of Frankfurt, a city official, and a senator. Daniel's portrait, encased in an oval, is rendered with meticulous detail. The engraving captures the texture of his voluminous, dark curly hair and the somber expression on his face. This official style of portraiture was used to convey power and status. Yet, engravings also democratized images, making them accessible to a wider audience. The Latin inscription beneath the portrait speaks of Daniel’s virtue and lineage. How are we to interpret these visual and textual languages of power? What does it mean to memorialize a figure like Daniel, especially considering the social inequalities inherent in 17th-century European society? The portrait serves as a reminder of how representation and identity are carefully constructed, reflecting societal values and reinforcing particular narratives of power.