Portret van hertog Christiaan van Brunswijk-Wolfenbüttel 1590 - 1612

This is Willem van Swanenburg's portrait of Duke Christian of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel, rendered in engraving. The oval composition draws the eye immediately to the Duke’s face, framed by an ornate border that inscribes his name and titles. The use of line is meticulous; Swanenburg employs hatching and cross-hatching to define form and texture, giving a tactile quality to the Duke's armor and the delicate lace collar. This attention to detail invites a semiotic reading of the Duke’s persona. His gaze is direct, and the intricate details of his attire are cultural codes signifying power and nobility. The visual language is less about capturing a likeness and more about constructing an image of authority. Swanenburg’s portrait is not just a representation but a carefully constructed statement. It speaks to the function of portraiture in the early 17th century as a medium for conveying status and solidifying social hierarchies.