Portret van Johann David Köhler 1722

This is a portrait of Johann David Köhler, made by Johann Martin Bernigeroth, likely in the mid-18th century. It’s an engraving, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, likely copper, and then printed. The engraver would have used a tool called a burin to cut lines into the polished surface. Think about the skill involved, the hours of labour. The result is a dense network of fine lines that create shading and volume. Look at the way Bernigeroth captured the texture of Köhler’s wig and the folds of his garments. The whole composition speaks to the growing importance of the printed image as a means of communication and documentation. Engravings like this were often made to circulate likenesses of important people, effectively democratizing the portrait. So, while Köhler was a learned man, a professor and librarian, this image also speaks to the rise of a print culture – and with it, new possibilities for knowledge and representation. This speaks volumes about the changing social landscape of the time.