Portret van Guillaume d'Aigrefeuille l'Ancien 1660

Etienne Picart created this portrait of Guillaume d'Aigrefeuille the Elder as an engraving. The composition is immediately striking: the oval frame, tightly cropped, focuses our attention on the cardinal’s stern face. The use of line is meticulous, creating texture and depth through hatching and cross-hatching. Looking closer, the formal structure tells us much about the subject's status and the function of portraiture at the time. The lines around the face are deeply engraved to emphasize his age and wisdom. The play of light and shadow, achieved through dense and sparse line work, serves to highlight the textures of his garments, suggesting both humility and the opulence associated with his ecclesiastical position. Picart's engraving functions as a sign, encoding social hierarchies through visual means. The detailed rendering is a testament to the engraver's skill, but more importantly, it speaks to the cultural significance attached to representing individuals of power and influence. The portrait immortalizes Aigrefeuille, but does so within a complex web of cultural and symbolic meanings which reflect established values.