Man uit Granada 1598

Christoph Krieger created this woodcut depicting a man from Granada. The image offers a glimpse into the early modern period’s fascination with cultural difference and identity. During this time, European artists often depicted people from other regions, reflecting a growing awareness and engagement with a wider world, but one viewed through a colonial lens. This depiction presents an interesting mix of observation and stereotype. The man’s clothing, including his hat and cloak, marks him as distinct, yet the representation also flattens his identity into a singular marker of origin. The gaze is direct, but does it invite understanding, or does it fix him as ‘other’? How does the framing, complete with decorative borders, influence our perception, turning a person into a spectacle? Consider the power dynamics at play. This image reminds us to critically examine how cultural identities are constructed and represented.