Portret van Guillaume Le Blanc 1576 - 1614

This is Thomas de Leu’s “Portret van Guillaume Le Blanc,” made sometime between 1560 and 1620. De Leu was a printmaker during a time when the printing press allowed for ideas and images to circulate with increasing ease. This portrait of Guillaume Le Blanc, a member of the court of Pope Sixtus IV, is carefully constructed, meant to convey the sitter’s status and intellect. Le Blanc is shown wearing a laurel wreath, an ancient symbol of victory and honor, often associated with poets and scholars. His clothing denotes his place in the court. Consider how Le Blanc, as a man of the church, navigates his identity within the rigid social structure of the time. The portrait is an example of how individuals sought to represent themselves within religious and political contexts, choosing symbols and imagery that would resonate with their intended audience.