Portret van Conrad Schwend 1704

This is Johannes Meyer's, "Portret van Conrad Schwend," an engraving made around 1704. The portrait is structured around an oval frame, within which Conrad Schwend is depicted in a three-quarter view. Meyer employs a meticulous use of line to define form, and the contrast between light and shadow gives the image depth, drawing our attention to the textures of his clothing and the details of his face. The framing of the subject within an oval introduces a sense of formal constraint, yet this is visually softened by elements that extend beyond the frame. The feathered hat and flowing robe suggest movement, disrupting any sense of rigid formality. This interplay between containment and expansion infuses the portrait with a dynamic tension, emblematic of the shifting social and intellectual currents of the time. Notice how the detailed inscription anchors the image, yet the portrait's dynamism hints at interpretations that challenge fixed meanings.