Portret van Demetrios Ypsilantis 1780 - 1832

Giovanni Boggi created this portrait of Demetrios Ypsilantis using an engraving technique. Boggi's work invites us to consider the role of portraits in constructing historical narratives and collective identities, particularly around revolutionary figures. Ypsilantis was a prominent figure in the Greek War of Independence, fighting for freedom from Ottoman rule, his identity as a hero is carefully crafted here. Consider the turban and other elements of dress that signal the sitter’s cultural background, set against the backdrop of early 19th-century European political and artistic conventions. Portraits like this are not simply neutral records; they actively participate in the creation and dissemination of cultural values. They reflect the complex negotiations between self-representation, cultural identity, and the politics of liberation.