Portret van Johann Henrich Voigt 1685 - 1791

This is Johann Friedlein's portrait of Johann Henrich Voigt, created through engraving. The inscription states that Voigt was seventy-eight at the time of the portrait, so this portrait immortalizes an aging scholar. It reflects the identities and values of its time. The Latin inscription around the portrait, along with Voigt's tools of mathematics and astronomy, speak to the importance of scholarship and classical learning. The emotional resonance lies in how it conveys the dignity of age and wisdom. Portraits like these served to immortalize and celebrate individual achievement, reflecting a society that valued intellectual pursuits, yet it is worth noting the underrepresentation of women and people of color in such portraits. This image offers a window into the societal values and intellectual life of the 17th century, inviting us to reflect on who is remembered, and how.