Portret van Maria II Stuart 1677 - 1711

Pieter Schenk’s portrait of Maria II Stuart, housed here at the Rijksmuseum, captures the eye with its striking oval composition and delicate use of line. The monochrome engraving focuses intensely on texture and form. Notice how Schenk uses hatching and cross-hatching to render the elaborate curls of Maria’s hair, contrasting with the smoother textures of her skin and gown. These techniques create a visual rhythm across the print, leading the eye from her face down to the ornate fabric. The artist plays with conventions of royal portraiture, suggesting power through refined detail rather than grand scale. The choice of engraving as a medium speaks to its role in disseminating images and ideas across Europe, reflecting a shift towards more accessible forms of representation. The formal constraints of engraving—its dependence on line and tonal contrast—challenge traditional painting's emphasis on color and illusionism.