Portret van de jurist Johann Daniel Herpfer 1670 - 1713

Pieter Schenk produced this print of Johann Daniel Herpfer in Amsterdam. The work reflects the social standing and role of Herpfer as a lawyer and city official. Looking at the print, we see the ways in which someone’s status was carefully communicated through visual codes. The billowing wig, the luxurious fabric of the robe, and the classical architecture in the background, all signal wealth and sophistication. This engraving was likely commissioned to circulate among Herpfer’s peers, reinforcing his position within the social hierarchy of the time. The Dutch Republic in the 17th and early 18th centuries was a society structured around trade, law, and civic administration. Portraits like these were not just about individual likeness but also about affirming one's place in the complex web of social and institutional relations. To fully understand this image, we can delve into archives, legal documents, and other visual materials from the period. This helps us reveal the dense social and institutional contexts that shaped its creation and reception.