B. Riisbrigh 1767 - 1824

Andreas Flint produced this print of B. Riisbrigh, using burin, etching, and possibly lavis techniques. The portrait, confined within an oval, evokes a sense of formality, further emphasized by the sitter's composed expression and attire. The delicate lines and gradations in tone, achieved through meticulous etching and burin work, give texture to Riisbrigh's face and clothing. Flint’s manipulation of light and shadow suggests depth, yet the flatness of the print medium asserts itself, creating a tension between illusion and reality. This tension mirrors the Enlightenment's project of revealing underlying structures through empirical observation. The neat lettering below the portrait acts as a semiotic sign, further anchoring the image to a specific identity and social context. It suggests a desire to codify and classify knowledge, a hallmark of the Enlightenment era. The formal qualities of the print—its precision, order, and clarity—reflect the era's emphasis on reason.