Portret van Johann Georg von Lasser 1693 - 1737

Curator: Today we’re looking at a rather striking portrait. It’s entitled "Portret van Johann Georg von Lasser," created by Bernhard Vogel sometime between 1693 and 1737. The medium here is particularly interesting; it’s an engraving. Editor: My immediate reaction is captured by the baroque extravagance—that wig! But looking past the flamboyant hair, there’s a remarkable balance of light and shadow, isn’t there? A somberness too, despite all the ornament. Curator: Exactly. The meticulous detail achieved through the engraving process allows for those subtle tonal shifts. Think about the labor involved in producing those fine lines—the artist’s hand tirelessly shaping the image. It brings a certain intimacy to the print. Editor: True, there is a certain laboriousness implied. But considering the visual language, don’t you find it rather fascinating how Vogel employs the oval frame and draped curtain to emphasize the subject’s importance? Even the elaborate coat of arms adds another layer. Curator: Undeniably. Semiotically, it functions as a signifier of nobility, a display of status and power characteristic of baroque portraiture. Consider, too, the textual component beneath the portrait. A lengthy inscription dedicates the work to this “illustrious, highly noble” man, this Georg von Lasser. Editor: That coat of arms must have been a source of civic pride. You could speculate how its making supported an artisan in the city, beyond just the named printmaker Vogel. Curator: Indeed. And what does it tell us about Lasser's identity that this print was even commissioned, beyond simple record-keeping? The creation and distribution of these kinds of images would be carefully controlled, offering insights into the culture of patronage at play. Editor: Right, one level deeper: It implies he had access to craftspeople to fulfill this vision and perhaps cement his name in history, literally engraved. Curator: Precisely. Thinking about the enduring impact, that detail transforms the symbolic function of the work. An interesting marriage of means and symbolic intent! Editor: For sure. From its construction, we might extrapolate new angles on social status—material and all.