Portret van Alexander Nicolaus Scherer 1800

Friedrich Wilhelm Nettling made this small portrait of Alexander Nicolaus Scherer using etching techniques in the early 19th century. This was a period defined by the rise of the middle class and the desire to immortalize themselves through portraiture. Consider the socio-political landscape of early 19th-century Europe. Napoleon's reign was ending, and society was driven by conservative values. The portrait reflects these values. Scherer's composed demeanor speaks volumes about the era's emphasis on decorum. Nettling’s technique demonstrates this restraint as well. This is etched portraiture at its most simple. What does it mean to capture a likeness? What does it mean to be remembered? Nettling's "Portret van Alexander Nicolaus Scherer" invites us to reflect on our own place in history.