Portret van Tobias Winckler 1720 - 1737

This is a portrait of Tobias Winckler by Bernhard Vogel, made using engraving techniques. The print conveys Winckler’s status as an Evangelical pastor in 18th-century Germany. The setting situates Winckler within the cultural and institutional spheres of his time. The classical column and shelf of books suggest the sitter's learning and erudition. The Latin inscription below the image tells us that he was a minister for 47 years. Winckler’s own gesture, pointing to himself, implies an emphasis on his individual piety and authority. It is worth noting that the print was made not long after the invention of the printing press, in a time when individual identity was being forged through such mediums of mass communication. To fully understand the image, one needs to draw on a range of historical sources, including parish records, biographies, and histories of German Protestantism. Through such means, we can explore the relationship between art, identity, and religious institutions in the early modern period.