Portret van Orcan Persarum Rex 1650 - 1670

Cornelis Meyssens created this print, Portret van Orcan Persarum Rex, in the 17th century. It's a portrait of a figure identified as Orcan, a Persian King, a depiction that carries the weight of cultural and historical perception from that era. Consider for a moment the identity of the artist, a European man, and his portrayal of a leader from the East. What visual cues are used to convey power and otherness? The elaborate turban, the ornate robe, the very title "Rex"—how do these elements shape a narrative for a European audience? This image invites us to reflect on the historical power dynamics between Europe and Persia, and how those dynamics played out in the visual arts. It's a reminder that portraiture is never neutral; it's always a constructed image, one that reflects both the subject and the cultural biases of the artist and audience. It prompts us to consider how we see, interpret, and represent cultures different from our own, both then and now.