Portret van Aernout van Geluwe 1640 - 1660

This is J. van Trigt's portrait of Aernout van Geluwe, rendered in printmaking – a medium perfectly suited to the subject. Printmaking, unlike painting or sculpture, relies on indirect production. Van Trigt created a matrix, most likely an engraved metal plate, from which an image can be repeatedly impressed. It is ideally suited to capturing Geluwe, a controversial theologian, whose ideas also circulated widely. Notice the inscription below the portrait. Consider the qualities of line that define the image. Engraving requires a deliberate, even forceful action, pushing a tool through resistant metal. Look closely at Geluwe’s face and you’ll see how the controlled, parallel lines create a sense of volume and texture. This is a technique that mirrors the dissemination of Geluwe’s beliefs. The printmaking medium is far from neutral. The image's inherent qualities of production imbue the portrait with social and cultural significance.