Portret van Samuel Stryk 1707

This print of Samuel Stryk was made by Martin Bernigeroth, probably in Germany around the turn of the 18th century. Here we see an image of the professor and counselor, framed in an oval cartouche, with Latin text below listing his titles. The portrait gives us a sense of the hierarchies of the time. Stryk’s wig and lace jabot signal his status as a man of importance, deeply embedded in the political and intellectual structures of the German states. The Latin inscription indicates that his authority rested on his learning as well as his courtly position. As historians, we might look into the archives of the universities or the courts to find out more about Stryk's career and the political events of his lifetime. We might also want to research the different roles he held to understand the structures of power and knowledge at the time. It's through understanding the wider social context that we can understand the significance of this image.