Portret van Johann Friedrich Frisch 1770

This is Johanna Dorothea Sysang’s portrait of Johann Friedrich Frisch. Sysang was a rare woman working as an engraver in the 18th century, in a male-dominated profession. Consider the role of portraiture at the time and the status of the sitter. Frisch, a clergyman in Leipzig, is captured with symbols of his authority: his formal attire, the book he holds, and the very act of commissioning a portrait. Sysang has carefully depicted Frisch’s features, conveying a sense of his status and intellect. As a woman artist, Sysang would have been navigating a complex social landscape, demonstrating her skills while also adhering to societal expectations of femininity. This engraving then, is not just a representation of Frisch, but also a testament to Sysang's professional achievements and her navigation of gendered spaces in the art world. It invites us to reflect on the dynamics of representation, authorship, and identity.