Portret van Jan Gysbert Moll 1759

Pieter Tanjé created this portrait of Jan Gysbert Moll using engraving. The composition draws the eye immediately to Moll’s profile, framed by a stone arch and a heavy curtain. Notice how Tanjé uses contrasting textures to define space. The smoothness of Moll's face and hair is set against the rough, porous stone, creating a visual and tactile juxtaposition. Moll's gaze, directed beyond the frame, intersects with the book in his hand. This book functions semiotically; it signifies knowledge, reflection, and perhaps a silent dialogue between the sitter and the viewer. This portrait isn’t just a representation of an individual but also a construction of identity through form and composition. It presents a study of form and space, inviting us to consider how portraits establish meaning through formal means.