Portret van Wolff Poemer - Johann Alexander Böner

A formal 17th-century engraving by Johann Alexander Böner, depicting the profile portrait of Wolff Poemer within a classical architectural frame.

This engraving by Johann Alexander Böner depicts Wolff Poemer, a figure identified by the inscription as an Eques (knight) and Senator. The portrait follows the conventions of late 17th-century printmaking, presenting the subject within a classical oval frame that rests upon a stone-like plinth. The composition focuses on the profile view of the sitter, who wears a skullcap and a ruff collar, elements that suggest a historical costume reflecting the era of the subject rather than the time of the artist.

Böner, a Nuremberg-based engraver, utilised precise line work to define the textures of the subject's clothing and the subtle shading of the facial features. The background within the oval is rendered with horizontal hatching, which creates a sense of depth and focus on the figure. The plinth below contains the name of the subject and his titles, rendered in a formal, serif typeface that balances the visual weight of the portrait above. The use of an oval frame was a common device in the period, often employed to elevate the status of the individual portrayed by placing them within an architectural or monumental context.

This print demonstrates the technical skill required for copperplate engraving during the Baroque period. The artist managed the contrast between the dark tones of the subject's attire and the lighter, neutral tones of the paper, ensuring clarity in the details of the ruff and the facial structure. Such portraits were frequently produced for inclusion in biographical collections or as commemorative records of civic leaders. The work remains a clean example of the portraiture style prevalent in German printmaking at the turn of the 18th century, prioritising formal accuracy and clear, legible iconography.