Portrait of an unknown man in three-quarter profile to the left 1500 - 1549

This ink drawing captures an unknown man in three-quarter profile, immortalized by an anonymous hand. Note the soft cap resting atop his head; this headwear, once a common marker of the artisan or the learned, evokes a sense of groundedness. Throughout time, the hat or cap has signified profession, status, and belonging, from the Phrygian cap of liberated slaves in antiquity to the berets of revolutionary artists. The way it gently crowns the subject brings to mind similar depictions across centuries—think of the self-portraits by Rembrandt, where headwear serves not only to signify a social standing, but also adds an air of introspective dignity. In our collective memory, this headwear is not just fabric; it is a signifier, connecting individuals across time through shared symbols of identity and calling.