Reproductie van een gravure van een portret van Frans Wouters door Pieter de Jode (II) before 1877

This is a reproduction of a portrait of Frans Wouters by Pieter de Jode II, recreated as a engraving by Joseph Maes. The work uses a restricted monochromatic palette. The tonality creates form by contrasting dark and light, giving the illusion of three dimensions on a two-dimensional plane. This strategy manipulates our perception to produce depth and volume. The artist’s deployment of light and shadow is significant, and serves not just an aesthetic purpose, but also a structural one. By manipulating these elements, the artist is not simply depicting an image, but actively constructing it. The use of linear marks give a semiotic code to be deciphered, where each stroke contributes to a larger narrative, challenging our understanding of representation and meaning. The overall composition uses visual language to engage with philosophical ideas about art, reality, and representation.