Portret van Hans Christoffel Stimmer 1574

This portrait of Hans Christoffel Stimmer was produced as an engraving, its exact date and author now unknown. The print, typical of its time, immortalizes a member of the 16th-century bourgeoisie, a class whose ascent shaped the very institutions of art. Look closely at the details: the ornate frame, the sitter's elaborate ruff and fur-lined cloak. These aren't just aesthetic choices, but markers of status and wealth in the burgeoning mercantile society of the Holy Roman Empire. The printing press, a relatively new technology, enabled the wider circulation of such images, reinforcing social hierarchies and creating a visual culture accessible beyond the elite. But who commissioned this portrait, and why? Was it intended for public display, or private contemplation? Historical records, like guild archives, tax rolls, and family papers, can help us understand the social context of this image. Each portrait is a product of specific circumstances, its meaning contingent on the world in which it was made and viewed.