Portrait of a Man; verso: Fragment of a Figure 16th-17th century

Editor: This is Federico Zuccaro's "Portrait of a Man," a small drawing. It feels like a very intimate, private depiction. What strikes you about this image? Curator: The profile itself is loaded with symbolism. Consider, why a profile? It presents a controlled, almost detached view. A mask, perhaps? What emotions are masked in the cultural memory? Editor: A mask? That’s an interesting interpretation. It also feels honest, though. Curator: Yes, but whose truth? The artist's? The sitter's desired image? In Renaissance portraiture, capturing likeness was about conveying status and virtue through visual symbols. Do you see those elements here? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way. It makes me consider how portraits are always a performance, for both the artist and the subject. Curator: Indeed. A performance of identity, mediated through the symbolic language of art.