Portret van Thaddaeus a Sancto Adamo Dereser 1802

This finely rendered portrait of Thaddaeus Antonius Dereser was made by Friedrich Wilhelm Bollinger. The engraving, with its limited tonal range, presents a study in contrasts and textures, all confined within the formal structure of an oval frame. This shape focuses our attention, compressing the detailed rendering of Dereser’s features. Bollinger has used linear strokes to create subtle modulations of light and shadow. The cross-hatching on the jacket, and the stark white of the ruffled cravat create a visual tension. The tight composition emphasizes a semiotic interplay between the sitter's composed expression and the voluminous text below, which details Dereser's academic titles. The structure of the image, with its combination of portraiture and textual information, suggests a dialogue between the visual and the linguistic. It invites us to consider how identity is constructed through both image and text. The oval frame and inscription work together to create a sense of historical and intellectual presence.