Portret van de reformator Johannes Calvijn 1670 - 1713

This is Pieter Schenk’s portrait of John Calvin, made around 1700, using etching. The entire composition is structured within a clean oval that immediately suggests a formal approach to the subject. Observe the tonal range achieved through etching: Schenk modulates light and shadow, creating depth and texture, most evident in the fur collar. Consider how Schenk has situated Calvin, eyes gazing slightly right, holding a book, perhaps indicating an openness to dialogue, a challenging proposition given Calvin's theological stances. The choice of rendering Calvin in monochrome serves to distill the image to its structural elements, inviting contemplation on the reformation leader’s intellectual intensity. The text below the image, captured with precision, uses Calvin's words to underscore the potency of his message, emphasizing a semiotic interplay between image and word.