Portræt af C. G. L. Meister 1797

This is a copperplate print of C. G. L. Meister by Gerhard Ludvig Lahde. Meister, depicted in profile, is framed within an oval vignette, a shape that carries echoes of ancient Roman portraiture, evoking a sense of classical authority and timelessness. This profile view, so reminiscent of Roman coins and cameos, is no accident. It speaks to a desire to immortalize the sitter, associating him with the enduring legacy of classical antiquity. Note the stark simplicity, the unadorned presentation; it encourages us to contemplate the essence of the individual, the persona stripped bare. Consider how similar profiles appear on currency or in busts of philosophers, each iteration subtly shifting the emphasis, yet fundamentally rooted in a shared visual language. It is a motif that resurfaces through centuries, carrying echoes of power and intellectual gravitas. This image, though seemingly straightforward, reveals the intricate dance between historical memory and cultural expression.