Portret van Rosalba Carriera 1757 - 1809

Johann Elias Haid created this print, "Portrait of Rosalba Carriera," sometime in the 18th century. What immediately strikes the eye is the intricate interplay of forms and the subtle tonal gradations achieved through the printmaking process. The composition is cleverly structured. Carriera’s portrait, encased in an oval frame, dominates the upper left, balanced by allegorical figures to the right and below. Note how Haid uses the frame itself as a compositional element, around which cherubic figures and draped fabrics are arranged. The texture and tonal range, from the deep blacks to the delicate grays, contribute to the overall sense of depth and volume. Consider the semiotic implications. Carriera, herself an accomplished artist, is framed not just by decorative elements but by symbols of her profession: a palette, a mask, suggesting the artifice and representation inherent in portraiture. This layering of images and symbols invites us to reflect on the nature of identity, representation, and the artist's role. It challenges fixed meanings, inviting ongoing interpretation and re-interpretation.