Portret van Johann Friedrich Herrenschwand 1758 - 1818

Matthias Gottfried Eichler created this portrait of Johann Friedrich Herrenschwand, with etching. Notice the formal structure of the print. The composition is divided into distinct zones. The oval portrait sits above a nameplate, all framed by a rectangular border. The use of line is meticulous, creating delicate shading and texture, building up Herrenschwand's features and clothing. The print operates within a semiotic system of signs, adhering to codes of portraiture prevalent at the time. The oval frame and formal pose convey status and intellect. The lines are finely worked to capture the texture of the sitter's jacket and wig, reinforcing his tangible presence. Eichler destabilizes the conventions of portraiture through its medium. Usually portraits immortalize the sitter, but as a print, it makes it more accessible for mass consumption. The formal qualities of this print—the ordered composition and controlled lines—reflect the Enlightenment values of reason and clarity. It's a reminder that art is always embedded in the cultural values of its time.