Portret van Hermannus de Schoenmaker 1677

This is Christoffel van Sichem the First’s ‘Portret van Hermannus de Schoenmaker’, made with woodcut. The portrait is striking in its intricate detail and classical form. The subject, a shoemaker named Hermannus, is rendered with a muscular physique, holding a trident and a jug, set against the backdrop of a barrel and architectural elements. The lines are sharp, creating a stark contrast and emphasizing the textures of the beard, muscles, and objects. The composition blends the mundane with the mythological, suggesting a semiotic system of signs where everyday individuals are elevated to iconic status through symbolic props. The artist destabilizes the conventional boundaries between social status and classical ideals, presenting a shoemaker with the attributes of a god or prophet. This highlights a broader discourse of the time, questioning traditional hierarchies and engaging with emerging ideas about the value and representation of the individual. The detailed woodcut technique not only showcases technical skill but also serves as a medium to explore new ways of thinking about representation, power, and perception.