Dimensions: height 229 mm, width 156 mm
Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
Philippus Velijn created this stipple engraving portrait of Franz Volkmar Reinhard. The portrait is defined by its oval frame, within which Reinhard is depicted. The composition is simple; a play between light and shadow that models the planes of Reinhard’s face. The stippling technique lends a soft texture, creating subtle tonal gradations that define form. The stark contrast between the white paper and the dark, closely-knit stipples draws attention to the contours of Reinhard's face and clerical garb. The subject's gaze, directed at the viewer, invites a direct engagement. Consider how the structural clarity of the portrait reinforces the sitter's status and the values of the era. The symmetrical composition, with its emphasis on order and balance, reflects the Enlightenment ideals of reason and control. This work serves not just as a likeness, but as a study in form and structure.
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