Portret van Christoph Samuel Ungnad 1768 - 1817

This is Johann Heinrich Lips's engraving of Christoph Samuel Ungnad, a portrait rendered with the precise lines characteristic of the era. Encapsulated within an oval frame, Ungnad's likeness is presented with a direct gaze, the ruffles at his chest a stark declaration of status and accomplishment. The oval frame itself is an ancient motif; a symbol of the eye, it has been used since antiquity to focus the viewer's attention, to isolate and elevate the sitter. You see this form echoed through time, from ancient Roman portraiture to Renaissance medals. Each iteration captures a desire to immortalize an individual, presenting them as objects of admiration and contemplation. Consider the psychological weight of such a frame. It invites us to peer into the sitter's world, whilst simultaneously reminding us of the distance, both temporal and social, that separates us. It's a window, yes, but also a barrier, underscoring the complex dance between observer and observed, a recurring theme throughout the history of portraiture.