Halberdier 1530

Jacopo Pontormo painted this portrait of a Halberdier using oil on wood panel, sometime in the 16th century. Pontormo's technique involves layering thin glazes of paint to create luminous effects, which beautifully render the folds of fabric. But consider the attire itself: the slashed sleeves, the elaborate cap. All indicators of wealth, but wealth put to military purpose. The halberd he holds, also known as a Swiss voulge, is as much a tool for creating social order than it is a weapon for war. The picture thus reflects a society where even fashion was conscripted into the project of governance. Pontormo himself was patronized by the Medici, and while we don't know the identity of the sitter here, we can be sure he was someone with a stake in the ruling order. All this from the careful application of oil paint. It reminds us that materials, making, and social context are always intertwined.