Portret van prins Georg III van Anhalt-Dessau 1597 - 1599

Robert Boissard created this portrait of Prince Georg III of Anhalt-Dessau using engraving. The print's composition is structured around the strong contrast of light and shadow, which gives the Prince's face a sculptural quality. The careful arrangement of lines creates texture and volume, inviting the viewer to consider the interplay between surface and depth. Boissard's formal precision uses the visual language of portraiture to communicate the Prince's status. By framing the portrait with columns, garlands and butterflies Boissard elevates the Prince to a high societal position. The inscription, a later addition, situates the portrait within a specific historical context. Notice how the interplay of textual and visual elements functions. It invites us to consider how power and identity were constructed in the period, as well as how such images contributed to the Prince's lasting memory.