Spaanse raadsheer te paard 1577

This print, "Spaanse raadsheer te paard," by Abraham de Bruyn, captures a Spanish official on horseback with fine lines etched into the plate. The composition, nearly symmetrical, balances the figure of the official with the horse, both rendered with meticulous detail. Notice how the artist uses a play of light and shadow, achieved through cross-hatching, to give volume and texture to the fabrics and the horse's musculature. The figure is dressed in voluminous robes, indicative of his status, which contrasts with the compact form of his hat. The controlled lines and the static pose convey a sense of authority, yet the subdued activity in the background suggests a world of complex relations. The print functions as a signifier of power, but it also invites us to reflect on the structures of representation and authority in its time. The formal elements—the lines, the balance, the contrast—do not merely depict a scene but also communicate a specific social and political order.