Portret van sir Thomas More 1631

This engraving of Sir Thomas More was created by Lucas Vorsterman I, sometime between 1595 and 1675, and is now held at the Rijksmuseum. Notice the sharp contrast between light and shadow which models More’s face. This chiaroscuro effect, combined with the textures rendered by fine, cross-hatched lines, creates a sense of depth and presence. The composition emphasizes the sitter's intellectual attributes. He is shown holding a quill and a piece of paper, suggesting his role as a writer and scholar. The formal elements of the portrait also subtly reinforce More’s complex position as a figure of both intellectual and religious conviction. The details, like the dog, lend a human dimension to his character. They signify faithfulness but also hint at the domestic life More sacrificed for his principles. Finally, consider how Vorsterman's technical skill serves not only to depict More, but also to construct an image deeply embedded in the cultural and philosophical currents of his time. Meaning is not fixed. It is always subject to interpretation, shifting with each encounter.