Portret van Willem Lodewijk, graaf van Nassau-Dillenburg 1600 - 1650

This is Johannes Eillarts’s portrait of Willem Lodewijk, graaf van Nassau-Dillenburg, created using engraving techniques. The visual experience is dominated by the detailed rendering of textures and materials. The contrast between the soft, ruffled collar and the hard, reflective armor creates an interesting tension. Eillarts uses line and shading to give depth and volume, particularly in the face, capturing a sense of gravity and presence. The formal composition is structured yet balanced, with the subject framed within an ornamented archway. The use of text, both as a label and as descriptive detail, adds another layer of complexity. Semiotically, the armor, the inscription, and the very act of portraiture serve as signs of status, power, and memory. This portrait reflects early modern concerns with identity, legacy, and the construction of authority through visual representation. Ultimately, the visual and material qualities of the engraving emphasize the lasting power of the image, making it a site for continuous interpretation of historical and cultural values.