Portret van Johan t'Serclaes van Tilly c. 1783

This is Justus Chevillet’s monochrome print of Johan t'Serclaes van Tilly. The composition is immediately striking. The subject’s direct gaze, framed by a high, starched collar, creates a powerful sense of presence, almost as if Tilly could look right through you. Chevillet uses the graphic qualities of the etching to build up layers of tone, emphasizing the textures of Tilly's elaborate garments and the contours of his face. The crisp lines defining his features and clothing contrast with the softer, more atmospheric rendering of the background. The artist’s mark-making technique is a language. Look at the way he uses hatching and cross-hatching to model form and create depth. How might these visual choices be viewed? Each line has a meaning. Each stroke has the potential to reveal not just the appearance of the subject, but also something of his character and place within the social structures of his time. The lines not only illustrate but also express.