The drupa Prize 2025 goes to art historian Anna Maria Jonietz for her outstanding dissertation on the Medici self-portrait collection from 1650 to 1723. The work impressively shows how self-portraits in the Medici collection were deliberately integrated into art and science history discourses, opening up new perspectives on image politics and representation. With this prize, drupa annually supports outstanding young scholars at the Faculty of Philosophy at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf.
The drupa Prize, worth €6,000, was presented on 1 September 2025 during a ceremony at the exhibition grounds in Düsseldorf. The presentation was attended by Wolfram N Diener, chairman of the management board of Messe Düsseldorf, Sabine Geldermann, director of drupa Portfolio Print Technologies, Heidrun Dorgeloh, vice-rector of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Stefan Hartmann, chairman of the Commission for the Promotion of Young Scientists at the Faculty of Philosophy, and doctoral supervisor Valeska von Rosen.
Dr Andreas Pleßke, CEO of Koenig & Bauer and chairman of the drupa Committee, congratulated the award winner on her achievement in a personal video message. ‘This award not only recognises exceptional scientific achievement, but also the courage to take an innovative look at historical image strategies – an impulse that has an impact far beyond art history,’ said Pleßke.
Innovative approach to the topic
In her dissertation, which was awarded summa cum laude, Anna Maria Jonietz analyses the Medici’s collection of self-portraits as a strategic communication tool. Her innovative approach to early Baroque image politics also builds a bridge to current issues surrounding media impact and public perception. The jury particularly praised the methodological originality, the interdisciplinary approach and the precise, source-based analysis.
About the drupa award winner 2025
Anna Maria Jonietz, born in 1989 in Ratibor, Poland, studied art history and Italian at Ruhr University Bochum. After research stays in Munich, Düsseldorf and Florence, she began her doctorate at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. Her dissertation was awarded summa cum laude in December 2023. She then worked there as a research assistant at the Chair of Modern and Early Modern Art History. Today, Jonietz lives in Munich and is a consultant at the Bavarian Academy of Sciences.
About the drupa prize
Since 1978, Messe Düsseldorf has been awarding the drupa Prize, worth €6,000, to outstanding dissertations written at the Faculty of Philosophy at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. The prize money is used to publish and distribute the award-winning work in the humanities. The winner of the drupa Prize is selected by a panel of experts consisting of the Rectorate of Heinrich Heine University (HHU) Düsseldorf, the Chair of the drupa Committee and the Chair of the Management Board of Messe Düsseldorf.
The next drupa will take place from 9 to 17 May 2028 at the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre.
