Felix Christopher Mentzer, præst 1711

Editor: This engraving, “Felix Christopher Mentzer, præst”, was created in 1711. It is presently located at the SMK in Copenhagen. The way he is posed holding the book is quite striking! What are your first impressions? Curator: The portrayal of Felix Christopher Mentzer, a pastor, provides a fascinating glimpse into the construction of identity and authority in the Baroque period. Notice how the surrounding objects—the overflowing bookcase, the draped fabric—operate not just as décor, but as active signifiers of status and intellect. The very act of producing and circulating this print speaks volumes about power structures at the time. Editor: Power structures? Can you say more about that? Curator: Think about it: who was typically depicted in portraits, and who controlled the means of image production and distribution? It was usually members of the elite, like this pastor, who could leverage these mediums to solidify their position. This portrait operates as a carefully constructed visual argument for Mentzer’s intellectual and spiritual legitimacy, wouldn't you agree? It subtly asserts his dominance within a specific social hierarchy. Who does this image serve, and whose stories are being left out? Editor: That's a compelling point, and it makes me wonder about the perspective of those who wouldn’t have had their portraits created and displayed at that time. Curator: Exactly. By centering questions of power, representation, and social context, we can unravel the complex web of meaning embedded within the artwork. Consider gender roles: How do the few existing portraits of women from this time period contrast? Editor: I had not thought of that. Now I want to go look up Baroque images of women. Thanks! Curator: And consider this not as a passive object but an active participant in the ongoing negotiation of power and identity. Always question what an artwork *does,* not just what it depicts.