Portret van Sigismond, Graf von Kollonitz 1740

Johann Martin Bernigeroth created this portrait of Sigismond, Graf von Kollonitz, in the 18th century. As an engraver, Bernigeroth operated within a network of printmakers and publishers who supplied visual materials to a growing public. This portrait, with its formal pose and elaborate frame, speaks to the sitter's high status as Archbishop of Vienna and Cardinal. The Latin inscription reinforces his importance within the Catholic Church, a powerful institution in the Habsburg Empire. The print would have circulated among the elite, reinforcing social hierarchies and promoting the image of powerful figures like Kollonitz. To fully understand this print, we need to delve into the social and political context of 18th-century Austria. Researching the history of the Catholic Church, the Habsburg dynasty, and the role of portraiture in constructing power can reveal the complex meanings embedded in this image. Art, after all, is always contingent on its time.