Portret van Sebastien Michaelis 1611 - 1647

This is Michel van Lochom's portrait of Sebastien Michaelis, made in the early 17th century. The engraving is characterized by its formal balance and symbolic depth, rendered in precise detail across a small scale. The composition features Michaelis in an oval frame, flanked by cherubic figures and ornate botanical elements. The use of line is particularly striking; notice how Lochom employs hatching and cross-hatching to create tonal variations and textures. This technique not only defines the contours of Michaelis’s face and robes but also gives a tangible quality to the paper in his hand, inscribed with a phrase that evokes theological reflection. The formal presentation is not merely decorative; it actively participates in constructing meaning. The symmetry and structured layout emphasize the sitter’s authority and status, while the inclusion of religious iconography situates him within a spiritual context. The portrait is therefore a structured argument, using visual language to assert Michaelis’s place within the religious and intellectual landscape of his time.