Portret van Wenzel Anton von Kaunitz-Rietberg 1749 - 1796

This is Johann Ernst Mansfeld's diminutive portrait of Wenzel Anton von Kaunitz-Rietberg, made with etching. The composition is immediately striking. A dark, circular portrait medallion, featuring a profile of Kaunitz-Rietberg, is set within a rectangular frame adorned with foliage. This contrast between the geometric frame and organic foliage creates a visual dialogue. Below the medallion, we see symbols of diplomacy, such as documents and writing instruments. These elements suggest a semiotic interplay between the man and his office, blurring the lines between individual identity and the role one inhabits. The use of monochrome further refines this piece. The absence of colour directs our focus to the lines and forms. Consider how the framing operates on multiple levels – the frame around the medallion, the medallion itself, and the larger rectangular format. Each layer invites us to question what is being contained, represented, and ultimately understood. It asks us to see not just a portrait, but a carefully constructed representation of power and identity.