Portret van Joan van Hoorn, gouverneur-generaal van Nederlands-Indië 1709 - 1726

Dirk Jongman's portrait of Joan van Hoorn, Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, presents us with a study in contrasts rendered through the precise medium of engraving. The subject's gaze is direct and composed, yet there is a subtle play of light and shadow across his features that adds depth. The engraving's success lies in its calculated arrangement of shapes and textures, as well as its symbolic resonance. Van Hoorn is framed by a curtain, which lends the image a sense of theatre and stagecraft. The meticulous arrangement of the man’s coat and cravat leads the eye on a journey through the visual field. The lines are delicate but firm, creating a sense of both elegance and authority. In the language of semiotics, consider the baton in Van Hoorn’s right hand. The cylindrical shape held diagonally across his torso interrupts the vertical and horizontal lines that dominate the rest of the image. This is no mere decoration; it is a signifier of power, suggesting both his role as a leader and his connection to the visual and historical codes of the era.