Portret van M.W. Herzogenrath 1807

Christoph-Wilhelm Bock made this print of M.W. Herzogenrath. In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the print served as a vital tool for circulating images and ideas throughout Europe. Bock, working somewhere in German-speaking Europe, produced this portrait of Herzogenrath. Prints like these were not just aesthetic objects but played a role in shaping social status, cultural identity, and even political movements. This artwork embodies the Neoclassical style of portraiture, known for its refined lines and emphasis on reason and order, a style that dominated European art institutions of the time. The lack of additional information about Herzogenrath turns our attention to the print as an artifact. Who was Bock making this print for? Was it a commercial venture, or was it commissioned? Was Herzogenrath part of a rising merchant class? These are just some of the questions we could explore. Using period directories, genealogical databases, and other archival materials, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social and economic conditions that gave rise to this kind of portraiture.