Portret van Agostino Chigi 1658 - 1676

Jean Frosne created this print, "Portret van Agostino Chigi," in the mid-17th century. The composition is structured around the oval frame which holds the portrait. The figure is rendered with meticulous detail, seen in the elaborate hair and the texture of the clothing. This is contrasted against the clean, almost clinical text and heraldic symbols that fill the lower portion of the print. The use of line here is particularly interesting; Frosne employs hatching and cross-hatching to create volume and shadow, which imbues the figure with a sense of presence. There is a semiotic interplay at work. The portrait, as a sign, signifies status and power, but also engages in a dialogue about representation and identity within the context of the Baroque era. The print challenges any fixed reading, opening it up for ongoing cultural and historical re-evaluation.