Portret van Joseph Haberkorn von Habersfeld 1749 - 1784

Johann Friedrich Schleuen engraved this portrait of Joseph Haberkorn von Habersfeld. Note the oval frame, crowned with a ribbon and festooned with garlands. This format, popular since antiquity, evokes Roman imperial portraiture, suggesting nobility and enduring legacy. Consider how the garland, a motif descending from ancient victory wreaths, reappears across centuries—adorning Renaissance Madonnas and framing Baroque royalty. It symbolizes virtue and honor. Yet, here, its presence, framing a priest, highlights a curious interplay between secular and sacred authority. The ribbon at the top of the image is especially interesting. Ribbons recur across artistic traditions and may reflect a universal desire to adorn and connect. In classical times, ribbons were used in religious ceremonies to bind objects. This resonates with the portrait’s function: to bind the viewer to the memory and essence of Haberkorn. These symbols speak to our shared human psyche, where memories and archetypes intertwine, shaping how we perceive and immortalize our figures. The image acts on a primal, emotional level by embodying the desire to pay homage to important figures, evoking feelings of respect. This creates a cultural memory that transcends time.