Portret van Christoph Dorsch c. 1710 - 1735

Hieronymus Böllmann created this print of Christoph Dorscheys, a celebrated engraver, sometime in the 17th or 18th century. What strikes me most about this image is the tension between the public declaration of identity, and the individual hidden within. Dorscheys is framed by a stone oval which declares his nobility and profession. Yet his gaze is soft, almost melancholic. In his elegant drapery and cascading wig, Dorscheys embodies the ideals of his time, but his eyes hint at something more personal, a world beyond the reach of societal expectations. It invites us to reflect on how individuals navigate public perception and internal identity. How do we reconcile who we are with who we are expected to be? How do we make space for our emotional selves? This portrait acts as a reminder of the complexities inherent in the human experience.