Portret van Christian Weise c. 1690 - 1733

Martin Bernigeroth's portrait of Christian Weise captures the esteemed scholar with symbols of his intellectual prowess. The book and quill in Weise’s hands anchor him to the world of learning and knowledge dissemination of the 17th century. Consider how the act of holding a quill transcends mere portraiture. Across time, the quill appears in images of scribes, evangelists, and poets. From medieval illuminated manuscripts to Renaissance paintings, it signifies not just literacy but divine inspiration and creative genius. This symbolic weight accumulates, each appearance adding to a rich tapestry of cultural memory. We must ask ourselves, why does this image, like those before it, evoke a sense of reverence and awe? Perhaps it is because, subconsciously, we recognize in it the power of the written word, an enduring human quest to understand and record our existence, a cyclical recurrence in the human psyche. It represents the persistent human impulse to create, to learn, and to leave our mark.