Portret van Melchior Otto Voit von Salzburg after 1642

This is Peter Troschel's portrait of Melchior Otto Voit von Salzburg, an engraving measuring 184 by 123 millimeters. Observe how the oval frame dominates, a classical structure that immediately establishes a sense of order and containment. Within this frame, the textures vary dramatically, from the dense, almost chaotic cross-hatching that models the background to the smoother, more refined lines defining Melchior's face. This contrast in texture does more than simply render form; it sets up a visual tension, a subtle play between the controlled and the uncontrolled. The artist's use of line is particularly striking, a semiotic system that conveys social status. Each stroke meticulously describes the subject's clothing and facial features, constructing an image of power and authority. The details in the ornate medal and the lace collar not only depict wealth but also speak to a broader cultural code of representation, underscoring the subject's place within the societal hierarchy. Note how the structural elements come together not just to depict a likeness, but to articulate a complex web of meaning, reflecting the philosophical currents and social structures of its time.