An Elegant Young Man Personifying Vanity 

This is Francesco Brizio’s pen and brown ink drawing, "An Elegant Young Man Personifying Vanity". Created in the late 16th or early 17th century, during the Baroque period, it reflects a society in transition, grappling with emerging ideas about identity and self-perception. At the heart of the drawing, a young man reclines with an air of self-absorption, gazing into a mirror. His elaborate attire and feathered hat speak to the importance of outward appearance and social status. The presence of a peacock, a traditional symbol of vanity, further emphasizes the theme of excessive pride and self-regard. In a society governed by strict social hierarchies, vanity becomes a complex issue tied to gender, class, and power. The young man's preoccupation with his appearance can be seen as a reflection of the pressures placed upon individuals to conform to societal expectations. This drawing, however, doesn't judge vanity, instead, it invites us to contemplate the tension between genuine self-esteem and superficial pride.