Portret van Sibylla Catharina Agricola 1682 - 1720

Johann Alexander Böner created this portrait of Sibylla Catharina Agricola, using engraving techniques. Notice how the oval frame, adorned with detailed foliage, immediately draws your eye, creating a sense of enclosure and intimacy. The monochrome palette emphasizes texture and form, from the delicate lace to the soft gradations of her skin. Böner uses symbolic framing to position Agricola, in what seems to be an allegory of virtue and intellect. The foliage and garlands encircling her suggest themes of nature, growth, and perhaps, her familial lineage, indicated by the crests. The portrait uses semiotic language, creating a space where personal identity meets cultural ideals. It invites us to see portraiture not just as representation, but as a construction of meaning, shaped by both artistic intent and social context.