Portret van Johann Ernst Kregel von Sternbach 1720 - 1733

Martin Bernigeroth created this engraving of Johann Ernst Kregel von Sternbach sometime around the late 17th to early 18th century. In this portrait, the trappings of status are on full display; Sternbach is adorned in a voluminous wig, elaborate garments, and posed regally in front of a classical column and sweeping curtain. The artwork offers insight into the era's social hierarchy, where appearances affirmed one's position. Yet, portraits such as this were not merely documentation; they were carefully crafted narratives. The choice of attire, the setting, and the overall composition served to construct and reinforce the sitter’s identity within the complex social and political landscape of the time. Notice how Bernigeroth balanced these grand proclamations of power with intimate details like Sternbach’s gaze, perhaps inviting us to consider the individual within the societal role. This portrait reflects not only the status, but also the personal narrative of a man navigating his identity in a world of strict social expectations.