Portret van Otto Mencke 1707 - 1733

This is Martin Bernigeroth’s engraving of Otto Mencke, made sometime before 1733. Mencke was a philosopher and publisher during the German Enlightenment; a period when social and political change emphasized reason and individualism. The image is rich with symbolism reflecting Mencke's life and intellectual contributions. The weeping figure at the base is an allegory of grief, perhaps lamenting the loss of knowledge upon Mencke's death. But what does it mean to see grief allegorized as a nude, androgynous figure? Is this meant to signify some universal or ‘pure’ form of mourning? Or does this figure instead represent an idealized version of the grieving scholar? The backdrop of overflowing bookshelves underscores Mencke's dedication to scholarship and the vastness of his intellectual pursuits. Bernigeroth is not simply presenting a portrait, but constructing a narrative about knowledge, loss, and the enduring legacy of intellectual work. Through this lens, the image invites us to reflect on how we commemorate intellectual achievements, and whose contributions are remembered.