Casper C. Schøller 1660s

Albert Haelwegh created this engraving of Casper C. Schøller. Consider the 17th century context in which Haelwegh worked, a society marked by rigid social hierarchies, religious orthodoxy, and burgeoning scientific inquiry. Haelwegh’s engraving is a product of the cultural values of the time. The Latin inscription elevates Schøller, linking his virtue to his lineage and suggesting a pre-determined path to greatness. The sober and dignified representation of Schøller as a white, affluent, Christian man reinforces the period’s power structures, yet the very act of creating a portrait also acknowledges the subject's importance and individuality. It’s a visual record, but it’s also a social document that speaks to the negotiation of identity and status in a world on the cusp of dramatic change. It leaves one questioning: how can one visualize virtue? Is such a thing even possible?