Portret van Michael Heinrich Griebner by Johann Martin Bernigeroth

Portret van Michael Heinrich Griebner

1734 - 1767

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Artwork details

Medium
engraving
Dimensions
height 159 mm, width 90 mm
Location
Rijksmuseum
Copyright
Rijks Museum: Open Domain

Tags

#aged paper#baroque#old engraving style#engraving

About this artwork

This is Johann Martin Bernigeroth's engraving of Michael Heinrich Griebner. It captures the texture of fabric and paper, and conveys an immediacy despite the subject's death before its making. Bernigeroth uses line and contrast to construct the portrait’s formal qualities: the subject's face, wig, and clothing stand in high relief against the dark background. This chiaroscuro effect models the shapes, creating depth and volume. The parallel lines suggest the form’s physical presence, not just its likeness. The portrait, with its columns, draped fabric, and book-lined shelves, suggests not just a person but an ideal. Bernigeroth's use of perspective, light, and texture, transforms Griebner into a representation of enlightenment, knowledge and virtue. This engraving thus operates on multiple levels, mirroring and shaping cultural values.

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