Portret van Adriaen de Croy te paard 1543

This is Cornelis Anthonisz.’s ‘Portrait of Adriaen de Croy on Horseback,’ an undated woodcut, now in the Rijksmuseum. What strikes us immediately is the intricate detail and the formal, almost iconic presentation of the subject. The composition is structured around a vertical axis, emphasizing the rider's upright posture, reinforced by the long spear, dividing the space symmetrically. The muted palette, punctuated by gold details, lends the piece a sense of solemnity, while the stylized rendering of the horse and rider flattens the perspective, creating a tapestry-like effect. The subject, elevated by his steed, becomes a symbol of power and nobility. The work underscores the semiotic interplay between the individual and his accoutrements, where each element—armor, horse trappings, heraldic symbols—contributes to a narrative of status and authority. Anthonisz masterfully employs the visual language of the era to construct an image deeply embedded in the cultural codes of rank and distinction. Consider, finally, how the artist uses line and form to not only depict but also to encode social hierarchies, inviting us to decode the visual signs that construct meaning in this carefully crafted portrait.