Portret van Arnoldus Landreben 1712 - 1744

This is Wouter Jongman's portrait of Arnoldus Landreben, created with engraving. The piece is dominated by a central oval framing the subject. The tight composition and the detailed use of line create a striking texture, particularly in the rendering of Landreben's wig. The formal structure of the portrait invites an exploration into the semiotics of representation. The use of line creates shading and volume, but it also delineates social status through clothing and setting. The subject is encircled by text, a symbolic gesture of authority, while the background of books suggests intellectual depth. Yet, the lines also trap Landreben within the frame, hinting at the constraints of identity imposed by societal expectations. The artwork, therefore, becomes not just a portrait but a commentary on the relationship between the individual and the structural forces of his time, questioning fixed notions of identity.