Portret van Willem III, prins van Oranje 1688 - 1724

Jacob Gole created this portrait of Willem III, Prince of Orange, using etching techniques. The composition is structured around a hierarchy of textures and forms. Notice the contrast between the soft, flowing curls of Willem's wig and the rigid, geometric lines of the table at the bottom. The interplay between light and shadow articulates the textures of the velvet robe, lace cuffs, and feathered hat, drawing our eye across the artwork. This emphasis on surface detail invites a semiotic reading, where clothing and adornments function as signs of status and power. The strategic placement of each object—the scepter, the drapery, and the ornate decorations—reflects not just a likeness of the sitter but also engages with broader cultural codes around monarchy and representation. The portrait is a study in the art of visual rhetoric.