Portret van Bonaventura de Gisgone 1643 - 1672

Matthias van Sommer made this print of Bonaventura de Gisgone. The portrait presents a man of status, but also invites us to consider the relationship between identity and representation in the late 17th century. The elaborate wig, the ornate collar, and the Maltese cross all speak to Gisgone's position within the societal hierarchy. Yet, these symbols of power are also performative, carefully constructed to project an image of authority. They are embedded with the complicated history of class, nobility, and religious order. Van Sommer’s print isn't just a depiction; it's a statement about Gisgone's place in a world deeply stratified by social status. As we look closer, we might reflect on how the carefully constructed image reflects the individual, and on the deeper structures of power and identity at play. The portrait is a frozen moment, yet it continues to speak to the ever-changing dynamics of recognition, representation, and self-fashioning.