Portret van Johann Wilhelm Hoffmann 1742

Johann Martin Bernigeroth created this portrait of Johann Wilhelm Hoffmann, likely in the mid-18th century, using engraving techniques. It’s a small print, but it speaks volumes about the status and self-presentation of intellectuals in the European Enlightenment. Note the oval frame, a common visual trope for portraits at the time, suggesting a certain formality. The text below the image provides crucial context; it identifies Hoffmann as a professor of history at the Academy of Wittenberg, and a counselor to the King of Poland. This blend of academic and political roles was not uncommon, as intellectuals often served as advisors and administrators. The powdered wig and formal attire signal Hoffmann's place within the social hierarchy of the time. To understand this image fully, we need to delve into the institutional history of universities and royal courts. Old books and archives can reveal the networks of patronage and influence that shaped the careers of men like Hoffmann. This portrait reminds us that art is always embedded in a specific social and institutional context.