Portret van Hendrik, graaf van Bergh 1613 - 1656

This is a portrait of Hendrik, Count of Bergh, made by Cornelis Danckerts the Elder. The print is characterized by an oval frame, a popular choice that brings our attention directly to the count's figure. The artist employs hatching and cross-hatching to define form and texture. Note the details in Hendrik's armor, which suggest a preoccupation with the representation of status and material wealth. The formal structure of the image is built on a contrast between the hard lines of the armor and the softer rendering of the face. Looking closely, we see the lines of age etched into Hendrik's face, a naturalistic touch. The composition directs our gaze towards the Count's face, where the artist seems to convey the sitter's character through detailed and subtle modelling. This contrast contributes to the print's complex interplay of form, content, and meaning.