Portret van George, prins van Denemarken 1659 - 1699

This is Pieter van Gunst’s "Portret van George, prins van Denemarken," an engraving probably made around the turn of the 18th century. The portrait presents Prince George framed within multiple borders, starting with the oval laurel wreath immediately around him. Below this, a ribbon and more architectural framing elements lead the eye down to an inscription with the Prince’s name. The print is dominated by the texture created through very fine lines. Van Gunst's engraving technique uses hatching and cross-hatching to create tonal variations and suggest the opulence of the Prince’s garments and the texture of his voluminous wig. This almost overwhelms the Prince’s face, rendering him as just one element within the visual architecture of wealth and status. Here, form serves ideology. The Prince's identity is less about his individual characteristics than about his position within a network of symbols. This is portraiture as formal heraldry, where the structural elements signify power.