Diogenes seated with his barrel behind him, and reading a book while holding a stick that rests on a geometry book to his right 1521 - 1531

Giovanni Jacopo Caraglio made this engraving of Diogenes in the mid-16th century, rendering the philosopher as a muscular, learned vagrant. Diogenes was known for rejecting social norms, choosing instead to live in poverty. Caraglio pictures him with a geometry book, alluding to Diogenes's emphasis on reason. But note that Diogenes holds a stick, a reminder that he also questioned theoretical knowledge, valuing the simple life. Produced in Italy, this print reflects a culture in which classical learning was becoming newly important in shaping social status. The print also speaks to the way certain institutions, like academies, were starting to develop their own canons and norms. While on one hand, it seems to celebrate the classical tradition and philosophical pursuit, it also subtly subverts them, perhaps reminding us of the social obligations attached to such learning. For a deeper dive, explore the history of classical philosophy in the Italian Renaissance and the biography of Diogenes. Consider the social status of intellectuals. This will further reveal the print's complexities and how it engages with contemporary debates.