Portret van kardinaal Carlo Pio 1658 - 1679

This is Giuseppe Maria Testana’s portrait of Cardinal Carlo Pio, made with etching techniques in the 17th century. The portrait is framed by a precise oval border. This shape contains the cardinal, whose stern gaze and composed posture convey a sense of formality and power. Notice the use of hatching and cross-hatching to model the cardinal’s face and clothing, giving depth and texture to the image. The surrounding space, outside the oval, is punctuated by heraldic emblems, symbols of family and ecclesiastical status. The formal structure of the portrait – the framing oval, the controlled lines, and the symbolic heraldry – all work together to create a visual language of authority. Yet, the very act of representation also introduces a degree of semiotic play. The portrait flattens a three-dimensional person into a two-dimensional image, prompting questions about the nature of identity and representation itself. It’s a complex interplay between what is present and what is being represented. In this etching, Testana captures not just the likeness of a man but also the intricacies of representation itself, urging us to look closely at the signs and structures that shape our understanding.