Portret van Johann Rudolph Gottlieb Beyer 1768 - 1817

This engraving shows Johann Rudolph Gottlieb Beyer, made by Johann Heinrich Lips in the late 18th or early 19th century. Lips was a Swiss artist, who lived through a period of revolution and change. Looking at this portrait, it’s interesting to think about the power dynamics at play. Consider the role of portraiture during this time, which was often used to convey status and identity. Beyer’s side profile, framed in a circle, presents a certain kind of formality and classical elegance. The tight crop suggests a desire for intimacy, yet the sitter appears to gaze past us. This engraving is a window into the world of late 18th and early 19th century Europe, where identity was carefully constructed and presented through art. How do these historical images inform our contemporary understanding of ourselves?