Portret van Abel-Louis de Sainte-Marthe 1697 - 1767

Louise Magdeleine Horthemels created this print, *Portret van Abel-Louis de Sainte-Marthe,* using engraving techniques. The composition is immediately striking for its geometric clarity, built upon contrasting forms. The oval frame, a soft continuous curve, contains the portrait, contrasting sharply with the rectangular base featuring strong horizontal lines. This structure creates a visual dialogue between the fluidity of life and the rigidity of societal expectations. Horthemels employs a semiotic system through line and form; the detailed hatching and cross-hatching define Sainte-Marthe's features, suggesting depth and character. The framing elements symbolize containment and presentation, common in portraiture of the time. Yet, the artist disrupts this convention by integrating the portrait with textual information, blurring the line between the individual and his public role. Ultimately, it challenges the viewer to consider how identity is both constructed and perceived, framed by both artistic choices and societal context.