Portret van Lorenzo Valla c. 1597 - 1599

This engraving portrays Lorenzo Valla, created by Theodor de Bry. The composition is structured around a central oval framing Valla's profile, emphasizing the humanist’s gaze. The texture, achieved through fine, intricate lines, gives a tactile quality to the fur trim and the subject’s features. De Bry uses the oval frame, adorned with symbolic motifs and text, to embed Valla within a network of historical and intellectual references. The text is a semiotic system with cultural codes, inviting us to decode the values and intellectual milieu associated with Valla. De Bry’s method serves not just to depict but to interpret Valla's significance through a formal arrangement of signs. The artist's strategic use of linear precision and textural contrast invites viewers to engage with the print on both a visual and intellectual level. The engraving creates an opportunity for ongoing dialogue and scholarly exploration.