Portret van Johann Andreas Engelbrecht 1787 - 1825

This is a portrait of Johann Andreas Engelbrecht, made by Friedrich Wilhelm Bollinger in an unknown year. Framed in an oval, the man is depicted with a powdered wig, a style resonant with formality and status. The oval itself is an ancient symbol. Think of the Vesica Piscis, formed by two intersecting circles, an oval shape embodying harmony and the union of opposites. This form reappears throughout history, from ancient mandorlas surrounding divine figures to Renaissance portraiture. It evokes a sense of completeness, encapsulating the essence of the individual within. Consider how such symbolic forms take on new life across time. Here, it presents Engelbrecht as a figure of cultivated intellect. The act of framing, regardless of the era, taps into our collective memory, subconsciously shaping our perception and lending the subject a certain timeless quality.