Portret van Johann Gottfried Seume 1809 - 1823

Amadeus Wenzel Böhm created this portrait of Johann Gottfried Seume using etching, a printmaking technique that uses acid to create lines in a metal plate. Considered in its historical context, this portrait offers a window into the intellectual circles of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Seume was a renowned author and poet, and the portrait captures his likeness. Böhm, active in the artistic milieu of the time, immortalized Seume’s image. The details in the etching – from the soft rendering of Seume’s features to the formal attire – speak to the values of representation and status. We can see a dialogue between the artist and his subject as they negotiate the terms of representation, against the backdrop of societal expectations and personal identity. This collaboration reflects not just individual personalities, but also a shared cultural landscape.