Buste van een bebaarde man, naar links 1646 - 1670

Hubert Quellinus created this print, "Buste van een bebaarde man, naar links," or "Bust of a bearded man, to the left," in the 17th century, a period marked by significant social hierarchy and cultural norms in Europe. This work reflects the conventions of portraiture during that time, where powerful men were often depicted with beards to signify wisdom, masculinity, and status. The gaze and classical garment drape give a sense of gravitas to the figure. But consider that this is a copy of a classical sculpture of a man, filtered through a very particular cultural lens. Quellinus was working in a society steeped in the visual language of power and privilege. He would have been acutely aware of the expectations for representing men of status. The choice to depict the figure in this way was not merely aesthetic but reinforced existing power structures. Although this print is not explicitly about gender, race, or class, it quietly echoes the values of a hierarchical society. It invites us to think about the representation of masculinity through art. What can we learn about the values of the time through this image?