Portret van Charles Gravier, graaf van Vergennes 1783 - 1795

This is Reinier Vinkeles's portrait of Charles Gravier, graaf van Vergennes, made with etching and burin. Note the subject's coat of arms with three birds, emblems of nobility. The birds, symbols of freedom and transcendence, have their roots in ancient heraldry, evoking the soaring aspirations of the elite. In ancient Egypt, birds represented the soul's journey to the afterlife. Similarly, this portrait captures the spirit of a man whose lineage and actions transcend the earthly realm. Consider the symbolic weight of the frame itself. The oval shape and the rectangular setting suggest an introspective view, a window into the subject's essence, contrasting the classical with the contemporary. Frames and borders evoke the psychological boundaries and the filters through which we perceive the world, consciously and subconsciously. These visual motifs serve as enduring reminders of our intertwined past and present.