Portret van Cherebert van Frankrijk 1739

Gaspard Duchange created this engraving of Cherebert van Frankrijk. Notice the oval frame, a classical motif, tightly constricting the subject. This immediately sets up a visual tension. The crown's jagged points, and the subject's sharp profile, contrast with the frame's smooth curves. Duchange destabilizes the expected harmony of portraiture. The use of line is meticulous; observe the hatching that defines the face and drapery. It's almost obsessive. This is a deliberate choice, emphasizing structure over surface, an almost anatomical dissection rather than a celebration of royal presence. What does this break down of form mean? Is this Duchange challenging the notion of fixed, monolithic power? The inscription below adds another layer, framing the portrait as a historical artifact, almost clinically examined. This is not just a portrait; it’s a semiotic game. It's an examination of power and representation as Duchange uses formal elements to question rather than to canonize. What is power and who has the authority to represent it?