Portret van Gottfried Moebius

About this artwork

blad: hoogte 178 mm (binnen plaatrand afgesneden) x breedte 127 mm (binnen plaatrand afgesneden)

Art Historical Context

**Portret van Gottfried Moe** is a finely executed engraving by Johann Dürr, 17th-century German printmaker active during the Baroque period (ca. 1621–1663). This intimate portrait captures Gottfried Moe, likely a contemporary scholar or notable figure from the German-speaking regions, rendered with the precision typical of period portraiture. Measuring just 178 mm high by 127 mm wide (med within the plate lines), the work exemplifies the compact scale of engravings designed for personal collections, books, or scholarly exchanges. Engraving, Dürr's chosen medium, involved incising intricate lines into a metal plate with a burin, then inking and printing to produce detailed, reproducible images. This technique was revolutionary in the 1600s, allowing portraits of intellectuals and patrons to circulate widely across Europe, democratizing access to likenesses that once required costly paintings. Dürr's style reflects the Northern Baroque emphasis on realism and texture, with fine lines conveying Moebius's features and attire. As a snapshot of early modern intellectual life, this piece highlights the era's fascination with individual legacy amid religious and scientific upheavals. Visitors will appreciate its technical mastery and role in preserving history through print.

About the Artist

Johann Dürr · 1600–1663

Johann Dürr (1600–1663) was a German copperplate engraver who worked primarily in Weimar during the mid-17th century, producing prints for court and scholarly patrons during the tumultuous period of the Thirty Years' War. Born in 1600, Dürr's career spanned one of the most devastating periods in German history, when religious conflict and military campaigns brought widespread destruction to German...