Portret van Carolus Segaar 1775 - 1785

This is Leendert Brasser’s portrait of Carolus Segaar made using engraving. The image presents a balance between the subject and the textual inscription below, all framed within a structured border. Segaar’s composed gaze and the open book command our attention. Brasser masterfully uses hatching to define form and texture. Light and shadow play across Segaar’s face and robes, creating depth and volume. Notice how the lines create a sense of texture and material quality in the clothing and hair. The book becomes an emblem of knowledge, a semiotic signifier. The composition invites reflection on representation and identity in the 18th century. Brasser does not just reproduce likeness, but constructs an image embedded with codes. The textual inscription enhances the portrait, as it invites the viewer to decode the visual and textual elements, to engage with this historical portrait beyond its surface.