Portret van Matthias van Oostenrijk 1672

This anonymous drawing on paper presents a complex interplay of text and materiality. At first glance, the composition appears as a study in contrasts, with delicate, looping script set against the stark, untouched expanses of the paper. The contrast evokes an almost palpable tension. Upon closer inspection, the careful arrangement of the script reveals a structured approach. Words cluster into dense configurations, creating distinct visual masses. Lines extend and curve, guiding the eye across the surface. The artist has harnessed the potential of negative space to frame and isolate the script, underscoring its symbolic weight. The work functions as a semiotic system, where each calligraphic element acts as a signifier within a broader network of meaning. The drawing challenges fixed meanings, prompting us to reconsider the conventional boundaries between text and image, function and aesthetics.