Portret van de stalmeester Gaspard de Saunier c. 1717 - 1748

This is David Coster's rendering of "Portret van de stalmeester Gaspard de Saunier", an engraving with stark contrasts and intricate linear work. The composition draws your eye immediately to the subject framed by an oval, which itself sits atop a rectangular plinth etched with text. Look how Coster uses line to delineate form, creating depth through hatching and cross-hatching, particularly evident in the dense wig and the fabric of the sitter's coat. The contrast between light and shadow is strategically deployed to give volume to the face and folds to the clothing. Coster subtly plays with semiotics, imbuing meaning through the subject's attire, pose, and the symbolic elements on the plinth—possibly a coat of arms. Notice how the structure of the portrait itself functions as a statement about representation and identity in the 18th century, where even in print, the sitter's status is carefully constructed.