Portret van Johann Gottfried Gregorii 1685 - 1733

Martin Bernigeroth created this portrait of Johann Gottfried Gregorii using etching techniques sometime around the late 17th to early 18th century. Note the dominance of line and the way it defines form within the oval frame. Bernigeroth masterfully uses hatching and cross-hatching to create subtle tonal variations, which model the face and drapery. Consider how the formal structure of the print emphasizes Gregorii's status. The oval frame, the architectural backdrop, and the inscription below, all serve to monumentalize the sitter. The texture, achieved through the intricate network of etched lines, adds a tactile quality, inviting close inspection. The overall composition, while formal, contains a dynamic interplay of textures and patterns. The very medium of etching, with its capacity for detail and reproducibility, speaks to broader cultural values of the period, emphasizing the power of images in disseminating knowledge and shaping public perception. It’s through these formal choices that the print transcends mere representation and becomes a powerful statement about identity and the social structures of its time.