Portret van J. H. Nägeli Possibly 1853 - 1856

Johann Peter Berghaus created this portrait of J.H. Nägeli using graphite and possibly some other technique. Notice the quill pen held firmly in Nägeli’s hand, poised over paper—a symbol of intellect, power, and communication. In ancient Egypt, the scribe was an esteemed figure, the keeper of knowledge. The pen echoes the caduceus, a symbol of Hermes, messenger of the gods, and the flow of information. Consider the evolution of this motif. From medieval illuminated manuscripts to the Enlightenment’s philosophical treatises, the pen signifies the act of shaping thought and influencing minds. One might recall the Roman stylus, used to inscribe wax tablets, a tool of governance and record-keeping. As time marches on, the pen transforms and reinvents itself, yet its fundamental essence persists. This image captures more than a likeness; it encapsulates the enduring human desire to record, to communicate, and to leave one’s mark on the world, which is constantly resurfacing and taking on new meanings in different contexts.