Portret van Fernando d'Avalos 1549 - 1575

This is an engraving of Fernando d'Avalos by an anonymous artist. Though undated, the work evokes the visual language of the Renaissance, a period marked by social hierarchies and military power. D'Avalos is depicted in profile, clad in armor, a symbol of his status as a military leader. The detailed rendering of his attire speaks to the importance of appearance as a marker of identity during this time. The gaze is fixed and forward-looking: is this an assertion of power, or a call to duty? It's interesting to consider how the artist, whose identity remains unknown to us, chose to portray d'Avalos. Whose perspectives and stories remain untold or unseen in this image? What does it mean to reproduce images that represent a particular ideal or set of values?