Portret van de Italiaanse kardinaal Cesare Baronio 1644

This is Frans van den Wijngaerde’s small portrait of the Italian Cardinal Cesare Baronio, made using etching. Notice how the composition is structured around the face, framed by the cardinal’s distinctive hat and beard. The linear precision of the etching technique creates a detailed texture, particularly in the rendering of the face and beard. The dense hatching defines the contours of the face, while the lighter, more delicate lines suggest the soft fabric of his robes. The portrait utilizes a semiotic system of signs to convey status and character. The cardinal's attire acts as a clear visual marker of his ecclesiastical authority. Wijngaerde uses line and form to highlight not just the Cardinal's position but also his individual humanity. This tension between the symbolic and the real invites us to consider how identities are constructed through both representation and individual expression.