Portret van David (II) Pareus c. 1588 - 1622

This is an engraving of David (II) Pareus by Jacques Granthomme, made in the 17th century. Immediately, the intricate linework and contrasting shades evoke a sense of solemnity, a stillness that invites close inspection. Granthomme has structured the composition around the figure's steady gaze and the book held in his hands. The precise details of Pareus's garments and the texture of his beard create a sense of depth, but also an intellectual intensity. We can appreciate how the formal elements contribute to the overall symbolic weight, especially when seen through the lens of semiotics. The text surrounding the portrait and the inscribed book serve as signs that work together to communicate meaning. The way Granthomme uses the interplay between the visual and the textual disrupts any fixed interpretation of the subject. The portrait becomes a site of ongoing dialogue between image, text, and viewer.