Portret van Johann Gottfried Zeller 1725 - 1734

This is Johann Andreas Pfeffel’s portrait of Johann Gottfried Zeller. The engraving offers a study in contrasts, framing the subject within a meticulously inscribed oval. Notice how the geometric precision of the oval sharply juxtaposes the organic, almost unruly depiction of Zeller himself. Pfeffel uses line and form to negotiate Zeller’s identity. The subject's gaze is direct, confronting the viewer, while his wig cascades in baroque extravagance. This is contained by the crisp, rational border that attempts to tame and categorize the figure within. The inscription, rendered with fine detail, serves as both a frame and a declaration, embedding Zeller within a linguistic and professional context. The composition suggests a tension between the man and the markers of his status, inviting questions about representation, identity, and the power of the portrait to define its subject. It reminds us that meaning is not fixed, but negotiated through the interplay of image, text, and perception.