Portret van de arts Georg Laub op 38-jarige leeftijd 1591

Dominicus Custos created this engraving, “Portrait of Doctor Georg Laub at 38 years of age,” around 1591. The portrait provides a glimpse into the identity and status of medical practitioners during the late 16th century. Laub’s identity as a man of science is constructed through dress and accoutrements. His elaborate attire signals wealth and respectability, while the book he holds alludes to knowledge and erudition. What might it have meant to be a male doctor during this period, when medicine was heavily influenced by traditional beliefs? Did access to medical knowledge mean power and privilege? The inscription below the portrait highlights Laub’s age and profession. It reinforces the idea of identity as something constructed and performed. Consider how the artist and sitter collaborate to create an image that transcends individual likeness, becoming a statement about social standing.