Portret van Karl Chotek von Chotkow 1808 - 1868

Carl Mayer made this portrait of Karl Chotek von Chotkow in an engraving. What immediately strikes you is how the portrait, with its detailed rendering of Karl's features and attire, exists within a vast, almost empty space. The stark contrast creates a visual imbalance. Consider how this framing affects our perception. Mayer uses the pictorial space to emphasize the figure, but at the same time creates a sense of isolation. The composition reflects a semiotic structure where the signifier, Karl's image, is placed against a background that, while seemingly neutral, impacts the signified. There’s a destabilization of the traditional portrait. It's not merely a representation of Karl, but an exploration of space and presence. The engraving exists not just as a historical artifact, but as a study in how the formal elements of art can challenge and redefine our understanding of representation itself.