Portret van Georg Liebler 1596

This is Jakob Lederlein’s portrait of Georg Liebler, made in 1596. Liebler, resplendent in his fur-lined robes, was a 70-year-old professor of physics at the University of Tübingen at the time this portrait was made. Liebler is framed by symbols of intellectual life: laurel leaves, cherubic figures, and architectural instruments. It’s hard to miss the trappings of wealth and status that Liebler, a man of science, is surrounded by. This was a period of immense growth in scientific knowledge, but this growth was almost exclusively reserved for elite men. While Liebler’s intellectual contributions were noteworthy, his position was inseparable from his privileged identity. Despite his intellectual prowess, the portrait evokes a sense of distance. He is captured in a moment of contemplation, yet his gaze seems to bypass the viewer, inviting us to consider not only the man, but the complex tapestry of power, knowledge, and privilege woven into his time.