Portret van Johann Lorenz Pfeiffer 1722 - 1749

This is a portrait of Johann Lorenz Pfeiffer, engraved in 1722 by Jakob Petrus. Notice how Pfeiffer holds a book, a common symbol of knowledge and scholarship. This motif appears across cultures and epochs, from ancient philosophers clutching scrolls to Renaissance scholars with tomes. The book signifies not just learning, but also authority, wisdom, and the transmission of ideas through generations. Think of the way religious figures are often depicted holding sacred texts, reinforcing their divine knowledge. Yet, the meaning of the book evolves. In some contexts, it represents enlightenment; in others, dogma. The very act of holding it can suggest reverence, a thirst for knowledge, or even a clinging to outdated ideas. This psychological weight of the book, as a symbol, engages viewers on a deep, subconscious level, stirring our collective memories of learning, tradition, and the power of the written word. Through time, the book persists as a potent emblem, its meaning perpetually reshaped.