Portret van Mattheus van den Broucke 1660 - 1680

This is Godfried Schalcken’s portrait of Mattheus van den Broucke, an etching, and engraving on paper. The figure dominates the composition and creates an immediate sense of presence. Schalcken masterfully uses line work to create texture and volume. The density of etched lines varies to define the form of the figure. The cape and hair are rendered with rich detail, in contrast to the smoother, less detailed textures of the face and hands. This contrast guides our eye, emphasizing certain aspects of the portrayed figure. The portrait has a sense of structure created by the arrangement of light and dark areas. The dark shading on the figure’s left contrasts with the bright sky to the left, thus drawing attention to his gaze. The composition thus achieves not just a representation of a person, but also a structured arrangement of forms and textures designed to engage our perception and intellect.