Plate 19: Torso of a Man with a Shield and Eye Study, from 'Collection of various doodles and etching proofs' (Recueil de divers griffonnements et preuves d'eauforte) 1641 - 1651

Stefano della Bella created this etching, "Torso of a Man with a Shield and Eye Study," as part of a larger collection of doodles. Della Bella lived in Florence during the tumultuous 17th century, a period marked by religious and political conflict. The artist was known for his detailed depictions of military life and courtly pageantry, revealing a society grappling with power, identity, and representation. In this print, a muscular male figure is featured, holding a shield, his gaze intense. Della Bella was working within the well-worn traditions of representing masculinity and strength, but it also subtly hints at the performative aspects of identity, in particular, male identity. What does it mean to perform strength? Is it a mask? The "doodle" suggests a private moment of reflection. It opens a window onto the artist's process and perhaps invites us to reflect on the complex interplay between self and the world.