Portret van Georg Ludwig Rögner 1672 - 1717

This is Johann Adam Seupel’s “Portret van Georg Ludwig Rögner,” a seventeenth-century engraving. The text surrounding Rögner’s image identifies him as a preacher at St. Thomas Church in Strasbourg and canon at St. Aurelia. The Protestant Reformation had a profound impact on the religious and political landscape of Europe, and Strasbourg, with its strategic location and intellectual environment, was a key center. Religious identity shaped political alliances, social structures, and even personal destinies. Here, Rögner’s attire and the book he holds signify his religious vocation and intellectual pursuits. His intense gaze and the detailed rendering of his features seem to reflect his unwavering commitment to his faith. But there is more to discover. What was it like to be a man of God during a time of religious conflict and intellectual ferment? How did individuals negotiate their identities within these larger historical forces? This engraving serves as a window into these questions.