Portret van Georg Conrad Rieger 1748

Johann Martin Bernigeroth created this portrait of Georg Conrad Rieger using etching techniques. The composition is structured around a play of geometric forms and textures. Notice how the oval frame softens the rigid lines of the background, drawing our attention to Rieger’s face. Bernigeroth's masterful use of hatching and cross-hatching not only defines the form and volume of Rieger's figure but also enriches the tactile quality of the print. This engraving exists as a sign, a representation of Rieger, but it is also an object in itself with its formal qualities and inherent structure. Bernigeroth’s work invites us to consider the semiotics of portraiture, exploring the way images function within systems of meaning and representation.