Portret van Benjamin Franklin 1762 - 1763

Edward Fisher created this mezzotint portrait of Benjamin Franklin in the 18th century. Observe how the composition, dominated by soft greys and blacks, directs our gaze towards Franklin. The texture, achieved through mezzotint, gives a velvety smoothness, contrasting with the sharp lines of the lightning in the background. This carefully constructed composition offers a semiotic reading into Franklin’s persona. Note the lightning, a clear reference to Franklin’s experiments with electricity. It’s not merely background; it's a signifier of enlightenment ideals and scientific inquiry. Franklin holds a quill and papers, emblems of his intellectual pursuits, while his gaze directs us to witness the enlightened transformation of society through science. Through formal elements like contrasting textures and symbolic imagery, the print underscores the power of knowledge to illuminate and reshape the world. It presents Franklin not just as an individual but as an emblem of a changing era, inviting perpetual re-evaluation of the relationship between science, society, and the individual.