Don Juan de Austria ("Joannes Austriacus") 

This is a pen and ink drawing of Don Juan de Austria by Anton Romako, created sometime in the 19th century. The figure, though depicted in full armour, comes across as fragile, an effect achieved through Romako's use of line. Notice the delicacy of the strokes that define Don Juan’s form; they're quick, almost scribbled, suggesting movement and instability. The composition itself is vertically oriented, emphasizing the figure’s slenderness, yet his gaze is directed to the left, creating a visual tension. We can understand the subject's gaze, posture and bearing as signs of the cultural codes of masculinity and power. The artist destabilizes this, however. The armour, meant to convey strength and protection, appears thin and almost transparent. Romako challenges the conventional representation of historical figures and invites us to question fixed notions of heroism and authority.