Portret van Karel de Grote 1730 - 1802

This is Johann Christian Gottfried Fritzsch's "Portret van Karel de Grote," a small engraving housed at the Rijksmuseum. The oval portrait, rendered in precise lines, captures Charlemagne with a solemn gaze. The artist uses hatching and cross-hatching to define the texture of his beard and the opulence of his crown and attire. Fritzsch employs the conventions of portraiture to convey power and authority. The oval frame, a common structural device in portraiture, isolates and elevates the figure. The inscription below acts as a semiotic anchor, fixing the identity and significance of the subject. Ultimately, the engraving serves not just as a representation, but also as a cultural artifact, reflecting the enduring legacy and continuous reinterpretation of historical figures.