Portret van keizer Herakleios 1557 - 1559

This engraving of Emperor Heraclius was made by Joos Gietleughen, and belongs to a series of portraits of emperors. It is made with the technique of engraving, where lines are incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. Look closely and you can see how the artist has used parallel lines to create tone and shadow, giving a sense of depth to the Emperor’s face and robes. The process of engraving is labor-intensive, demanding precision and control. It's a slow build of detail, that reflects the status of the Emperor himself. The plate is made to act like a coin, something that has been physically laboured. The circular composition is surrounded by inscriptions in Greek and Latin. This gives the image a sense of scholarly authority. Yet, the image also features elements of fantasy, such as the sun rays emanating from above. The overall effect is a fusion of art and craft, knowledge and imagination, highlighting the power of images to communicate across cultures and time periods.