Portret van Ferdinand Albrecht II von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel 1711

Here is your audio guide script: This is Martin Bernigeroth’s portrait of Ferdinand Albrecht II von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel, made using etching. The composition is structured by contrasting textures and forms, setting the stage for a visual interplay of power and refinement. Bernigeroth uses linear precision to define textures, from the elaborate wig to the sheen on the armor. These details don’t merely depict Albrecht; they construct him, embedding cultural codes of status. The frame around the portrait disrupts conventional representation, turning Albrecht into a spectacle. This constructedness reflects semiotic principles, where signs – like Albrecht's armor and wig – signify social rank. The etched lines and contrasting tones destabilize fixed meanings by questioning the boundary between the man and his constructed image. Bernigeroth’s technique transforms Albrecht into an emblem of his era. This emblem challenges us to consider how portraits communicate power, not just as reflections of identity, but as carefully constructed performances.