Portret van Willem III, prins van Oranje c. 1670 - 1695

This engraving portrays Willem III, Prince of Orange, created by Christiaan Hagen. Observe the contrasting textures and tones achieved through hatching and cross-hatching. Light reflects off Willem’s polished armour, creating an interplay of light and shadow that defines its form. The flowing lines of his hair and lace collar offer a softer counterpoint to the rigid metal. The composition divides the figure into distinct zones: the detailed armour, the soft textiles, and the background landscape, each rendered with different densities of line. Text functions as a key structural element, integrating the figure with its title. Through these formal choices, Hagen presents not just a portrait, but a study in contrasts, reflecting the complex interplay between power, representation, and artistic technique. By destabilizing fixed notions of portraiture, Hagen offers ongoing interpretations through the semiotic analysis of lines, textures and forms.