Portret van Heinrich Pfenninger 1759 - 1815

This is a print of Heinrich Pfenninger by himself, likely made toward the end of the eighteenth century. The profile portrait was a favored way of representing gentlemen and nobility. Set within a decorative oval, it speaks to a cultural obsession with status and family lineage, which was so important in Europe at this time. Pfenninger was Swiss, and the clean, spare lines of the engraving reflect the values of Swiss Protestantism, with its emphasis on hard work and sober living. Pfenninger was one of many artists working in portraiture to make a living; the art market was expanding but still dependent on the patronage of elites. Note the crisp lines and smooth shading. As art historians, we must consider the social and economic conditions that made this image possible, researching the artist, his patrons, and the institutions of art in his time to understand its place in society.