Portret van Albrecht Friedrich, marktgraaf van Brandenburg 1556

This is Pieter van der Heyden’s 1556 portrait of Albrecht Friedrich, Margrave of Brandenburg, crafted with engraving techniques. The portrait, encased in an oval frame, presents a study in contrasts. The subject's profile, rendered with meticulous detail, stands out against the backdrop of his ornate armor. Van der Heyden uses line and texture to bring depth and realism to the face, from the delicate curls of the beard to the furrowed brow. Structurally, the oval composition directs the viewer's gaze to the figure, the inscription functioning as both a border and a proclamation of identity. The armor, a visual signifier of power and status, reflects light in such a way that the Margrave appears almost luminous, his figure caught between representation and symbolic form. Note how this portrait uses visual language to reinforce the subject's status, yet also hints at the weight of such representation.