Portret van Georg Trapezuntius c. 1597 - 1669

This engraving, "Portret van Georg Trapezuntius," was made by Theodor de Bry, an artist active in the late 16th century. It depicts George of Trebizond, a Greek philosopher and humanist. Consider the historical backdrop: De Bry lived during the Reformation, a time of religious and intellectual upheaval. His engravings often reflected his own Protestant beliefs and the broader societal shifts of the era. In many ways, printed images, such as this one, were a key form of visual communication and propaganda. De Bry has framed George of Trebizond in a decorative oval, complete with foliage and resting rodents. The text at the bottom tells us that after Tragicus was subjected to the Getae, he lived more comfortably in Latium, implying that his philosophical approach only truly blossomed away from his homeland. Consider how issues of cultural identity, displacement, and intellectual freedom were interwoven during this period. The portrait asks us to consider how one's sense of self is negotiated across different cultural landscapes.