Portret van Johann Jakob Hess 1759 - 1815

Heinrich Pfenninger created this portrait of Johann Jakob Hess with etching. The profile portrait, a style rooted in antiquity, evokes a sense of classical stoicism. Consider the oval frame, a shape that has long symbolized the containment of life and spirit. It’s a motif that recurs across centuries, from ancient Roman cameos to Renaissance portraiture, each time whispering of the individual's essence captured within. Like a coin bearing the emperor’s profile, it presents Hess as a figure of note for posterity. Yet, the choice of profile view also suggests something more. It presents a particular view, a carefully curated image, inviting the viewer to contemplate not just who Hess was, but also how he wished to be seen. This controlled presentation, embedded in the visual language of portraiture, speaks to the complex dance between public persona and private self, echoing through the ages.