Fantastical Masked Masculine Heads 1550 - 1600

This sheet featuring two ‘Fantastical Masked Masculine Heads’ was created by an anonymous artist using etching. Consider the historical context; during the time this was made, masculine identity was often linked to displays of power and status. These are represented through the elaborate helmets and armors. Do you notice how they are adorned with strange figures, flora, and fauna? The artist seems to subvert the traditional representations of masculinity by embedding them in an otherworldly context. There is a tension in these images between the power of masculine representation and the way that the figures are framed. It reminds us that identity is often constructed through layers of masks and adornments. It makes me wonder, what truths are revealed, and what realities are concealed in these representations?