Plate 10: Vespasian with his head turned slightly to the left, from "The Twelve Caesars" 1610 - 1640

This is "Plate 10: Vespasian with his head turned slightly to the left, from "The Twelve Caesars," an engraving of an imagined portrait of the Roman emperor Vespasian. It’s difficult to consider this image outside the historical context of Roman Imperialism. Vespasian ruled an empire built on military expansion and the exploitation of conquered peoples. This image of Vespasian reflects and perpetuates the power structures of his time. His stern gaze and ornate headdress, complete with a lion, were crafted to project an image of strength and authority. As he looks out at us, do we consider the violence enacted in maintaining that power? The anonymous artist may have sought to immortalize a powerful figure, but this image also serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of unchecked authority. As we look at this image, consider whose stories are amplified and whose are silenced in the grand narratives of power. How do we challenge these power structures today?