Portrait of Johannes Munter 1673

Bartholomeus Eggers created this marble bust of Johannes Munter. Notice how the sculpture presents a tension between the smooth planes of Munter's face and the highly textured elements of his wig and drapery. Eggers masterfully employs a play of light and shadow across the work, creating depth and imbuing the figure with a sense of presence. The intricate curls of the wig contrast with the solid, geometric form of the base, establishing a visual hierarchy that draws our eye upward. Eggers negotiates the codes of portraiture; the hand placed on the chest, a conventional signifier of sincerity. Yet, it is the formal structure and the treatment of material that generates a dynamic interplay between surface and depth, representation and abstraction. This interplay challenges our perception and provides insight into the cultural and philosophical underpinnings of representation itself.