Portret van Sebastian Schmidt 1672 - 1717

This is Johann Adam Seupel's portrait of Sebastian Schmidt, created with engraving. Dominating the image is Schmidt himself, holding a book. The book, a symbol of knowledge and wisdom, is strategically placed. Thinkers throughout history have been portrayed with books, evoking a lineage of intellectual pursuit. In ancient Greece, philosophers clutched scrolls, while medieval scholars held illuminated manuscripts. Observe, in this engraving, how the book's edges are blurred and the title is only barely legible, in contrast to the sharp lines defining Schmidt's face and clerical dress. This could echo humanity’s struggle with interpreting the divine word and holy texts. The cyclical progression of this symbol, the book, continues. Even in our digital age, the book persists, not only as the printed word but also as the e-reader, always evolving, always present.