Portret van Michelangelo 1549 - 1584

This is an engraving of Michelangelo, made by an anonymous artist, date unknown. It presents us with an image of the artist as a public figure, one that has become detached from the man himself. Note how the image creates meaning through visual codes. The compass decorating the frame alludes to Michelangelo's skill as an architect. This is a clue that it was likely produced and circulated in the 16th or 17th century, the age of print, when the market for portraits of famous artists began to grow. This image of the artist, like many others, served the purpose of elevating the status of art and artists in society. To properly understand the work, we would need to consult the archives. This would enable us to put this image back into its institutional and social context. By doing that, we can understand the politics of imagery and how the artistic production is shaped by certain social conditions.