Joachim Gersdorff 1703 - 1757

This engraving of Joachim Gersdorff was made by Johann Christoph Sysang, likely in Denmark, during the first half of the 18th century. The image participates in the cultural phenomenon of the aristocratic portrait, a visual code designed to communicate status. We see Gersdorff framed by symbols of wealth, power, and learning: A decorative curtain, an overflowing bookshelf, a family crest. The man himself is adorned with a lavish wig and what looks like a medal of honor, presented as though for public admiration. The engraving testifies to the importance of the aristocratic class at the time and the institutions that supported it. Art history helps us understand how images like this reflect and reinforce social structures. By consulting sources such as genealogical records, historic newspapers, and inventories of estates, we can begin to understand the world that gave rise to this kind of portraiture.