Portret van Johannes Stumpf 1632 - 1699

Cornelis Nicolaus Schurtz created this portrait of Johannes Stumpf using engraving techniques. The portrait is dominated by the subject's face, framed within a meticulously inscribed oval border. The texture, achieved through fine lines and hatching, creates subtle gradations of light and shadow. This adds depth to Stumpf's features and the intricate ruff around his neck. The use of line in this piece is particularly striking. Note the way parallel lines create tonal variation, giving volume to the figure. The oval form containing the portrait disrupts any sense of linear perspective, creating a self-contained world. This formal structure is echoed in the symmetry of the inscribed text below, where the balance of words mirrors the visual stability of the portrait. The careful arrangement of textual and figural elements invites us to consider how meaning is constructed not just through representation but through the very structure of the artwork itself. This isn't merely a likeness; it’s a carefully constructed statement about identity, status and legacy.