Portret van Ferdinand hertog van Brunswijk-Lüneburg 1775 - 1777

This is Jacob Houbraken’s portrait of Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, made using engraving. The visual experience is dominated by intricate detailing and textures created through fine lines. The composition meticulously presents the Duke in full regalia, evoking a sense of formality and power. Houbraken’s mastery of line work creates a complex interplay of light and shadow, defining the textures of fabric, fur, and metal. The structural arrangement of the portrait, with its symmetrical balance and detailed ornamentation, reflects the hierarchical values of the era. Semiotically, each element—the ermine cloak, the ornate chain, the sword—functions as a signifier of status and authority. The artwork challenges fixed meanings by inviting us to decode the visual language of power. The Duke's posture and the arrangement of symbols function not merely as aesthetic choices but as deliberate constructions of identity and authority. The engraving serves as an intriguing lens through which to examine the cultural codes embedded in portraiture.