Entwurf zu einem Titelblatt für Johann Christian Gernings Sammlung von Frankfurter Porträts 1773

Christian Benjamin Rauschner created this title page design for Johann Christian Gerning's collection of Frankfurt portraits around 1773, using pen and gray ink with gray wash. The elaborate design reflects the cultural milieu of the Enlightenment, where civic pride intertwined with artistic and intellectual pursuits. The central frame, filled with Latin text, is adorned with symbols of art, music, and civic virtue: a painter's palette, musical instruments, and allegorical figures. We see the influence of classical ideals as they were reinterpreted through the lens of 18th-century society. It invites us to consider the relationship between individual identity and collective memory. How did Gerning seek to represent Frankfurt society through his collection of portraits, and what values did he seek to promote? Rauschner’s design isn't merely decorative, it speaks to the construction of cultural identity in a rapidly changing world. Ultimately, this title page design offers a glimpse into the complex interplay of art, politics, and identity in 18th-century Frankfurt, inviting us to reflect on the ways in which we construct our own narratives of belonging and remembrance.