Portret van Khair ad-Din 1549 - 1575

This is an engraving of Khair ad-Din, also known as Barbarossa, made by an anonymous artist. In this small portrait, we see more than just the depiction of a man; we see a cultural encounter rendered in ink. Khair ad-Din, an Ottoman admiral of Algerian origin, is framed here through the lens of European artistry, likely intended for circulation among a European audience. The detailed lines capture his likeness, but they also speak to the dynamics of power and representation of the time. How might Khair ad-Din have perceived this image of himself, created by someone from a different cultural background? Does it reflect his identity, or does it serve the interests of those who circulated it? This work stands as a testament to the complex interplay between identity, representation, and historical narrative.