Portret van Heinrich Wurtzer 1687 - 1743

This is Johann Georg Mentzel’s “Portret van Heinrich Wurtzer,” created sometime between 1716 and 1743, and made with etching. Mentzel, a German draughtsman and engraver, was working in a period defined by rigid social hierarchies. The portrait presents Heinrich Wurtzer, a pastor, framed by symbols of status. The intricate frame, the wig, and the books subtly communicate Wurtzer’s privileged position within his community. The very act of commissioning a portrait was a statement of social standing. Consider what it meant to be represented in this way. How does it feel to have one’s identity so publicly and permanently displayed? Portraits like this one weren’t just about physical likeness, they were about constructing a persona, carefully curated to project authority and respectability. Wurtzer's identity as a religious leader is interwoven with his social status, a reflection of the power structures inherent in 18th-century society. Think about what's included in this portrait, and equally, what isn't. What elements contribute to our understanding of Wurtzer and his time?