Henry Martyn before 1893

This engraving of Henry Martyn resides within the pages of a book at the Rijksmuseum. As a printed image, the engraving presents a study in contrasts—the stark black ink against the creamy page, the rigid geometry of the book’s layout offset by the fluid lines that define Martyn’s likeness. The engraving operates within a complex semiotic system. Lines are used to construct both form and depth, but also to convey character. Martyn’s gaze is directed toward us, but the image, set against the printed text, reflects the historical and cultural context in which religious figures were disseminated through print. The ordering of text alongside the image functions to reinforce a narrative, directing our interpretation of Martyn. The book, as a medium, binds the image to a specific discourse, shaping its meaning within a larger framework of knowledge. The image is not viewed in isolation, but framed by the book's structure, thus suggesting how meaning is constructed through context and presentation.