Portret van Johann Sigismund, keurvorst van Brandenburg 1657 - 1720

This engraving, made by Johann Alexander Böner, presents a portrait of Johann Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg. The artwork captivates with its monochrome precision and the stark contrast between the subject and the detailed ornamental frame. This formal arrangement evokes a sense of hierarchy and controlled elegance. The portrait is meticulously framed within an oval that is decorated with dense foliage. This composition encourages us to interpret the subject's status through the semiotic language of the Baroque period, where portraiture functioned as a signifier of power and social order. Böner’s use of line and texture not only captures the likeness of Johann Sigismund, but also serves as a cultural marker that reflects broader artistic and philosophical concerns about representation and authority. The stark detail of the etching, with its deliberate structure and contrasting tones, presents an interpretation of identity deeply rooted in the visual rhetoric of its time. It reminds us that art is not a fixed entity, but is continuously re-evaluated through changing cultural and intellectual landscapes.