Portret van Adriaen Tegularius 1645 - 1669

This is Jonas Suyderhoef’s portrait of Adriaen Tegularius, an engraving that captures the sitter’s likeness with remarkable detail. The composition is dominated by Tegularius’s figure, rendered in a play of light and shadow, creating a study of texture and form. The engraving elicits a contemplative mood, inviting reflection on the sitter’s character. Suyderhoef masterfully uses the linear quality of engraving to define shape and volume. Note the dense network of lines that model Tegularius’s face and clothing, a technique that lends the image a palpable sense of depth. The textures—the crispness of the collar, the soft fabric of the cloak—are conveyed through variations in line density and direction, underscoring the materiality of the subject. The inscriptions framing the portrait engage in a semiotic dance, offering textual clues that both complement and complicate our reading of the image. This interplay between image and text highlights the constructed nature of representation and the multiplicity of meanings inherent in portraiture. Ultimately, the artwork prompts us to consider how identity is fashioned through visual and textual signs within a specific cultural context.