Portret van Johan Georg I 1600 - 1676

This is Frederik Bouttats's etched portrait of Johan Georg I. The composition is dominated by an oval frame, within which Georg's figure is meticulously detailed. The artist uses hatching lines to give form to the subject. Note the sharp lines defining the face, contrasted with the softer, fur-trimmed robes. These textures are not merely decorative; they serve to emphasize the sitter's status and wealth. Behind Georg, a draped curtain and a crown rest on a cushion, placed off-center. This compositional choice destabilizes the traditional portrait's focus on symmetry. The inclusion of heraldic symbols and Latin inscriptions around the portrait adds layers of semiotic information, reinforcing the subject's identity and lineage. The artist uses linear precision to capture not just a likeness but a set of symbols conveying power and authority. The engraving functions as a statement about the cultural and political structures of its time.