Portret van Johannes Micraelius 1607 - 1658

This engraving, made by Johann Famer, presents us with Johannes Micraelius, framed by fruit bearing ornamentation and an inscription. The fruits adorning the oval frame are symbols with deep roots. Consider how the image of fruit, such as apples, evokes the classical Hesperides of antiquity, the deities guarding the golden apples that granted immortality. Yet, it inevitably calls to mind the biblical tale of the Fall, forever intertwining the themes of knowledge, temptation, and mortality. This duality encapsulates the complex, often contradictory, nature of symbols. Observe how the motif of the frame itself, designed to contain and elevate, echoes through epochs, recurring in Roman imperial portraiture and Renaissance panel paintings. This seemingly simple border becomes a stage upon which the drama of human identity unfolds, its form shifting with the winds of history, yet its purpose ever constant. It is a powerful visual device that engages viewers on a deep, subconscious level. This reflects our collective memory and subconscious, powerfully affecting how we interpret such iconography.