Portretten van keizers Julius Caesar en Augustus en Tiberius en Claudius Possibly 1510 - 1562

Editor: This engraving, "Portraits of Emperors Julius Caesar and Augustus and Tiberius and Claudius" by Marcantonio Raimondi, likely created between 1510 and 1562, presents a formal arrangement of powerful figures. There's a stoic quality to each portrait. How do you interpret this work in the context of its time and ours? Curator: This print speaks volumes about power, representation, and historical narratives. Created during the Renaissance, it reflects a renewed interest in classical antiquity, but also reveals the way those figures were being used to legitimise power in the present. Consider how the choice to portray these emperors in a classical style, circulated via print, was itself a political act, creating and disseminating specific messages about leadership and authority. What do you notice about who *isn't* represented here? Editor: Well, they're all men, obviously, and from a particular class and cultural background. Curator: Exactly. The exclusion of women and non-elites in the construction of historical narratives is crucial. By focusing solely on these male emperors, the artwork perpetuates a specific, and limited, idea of who shapes history. Moreover, think about how this imagery may have reinforced colonial power structures, given the West's historic obsession with Roman ideals. Does this alter how we view this print today? Editor: It definitely adds layers of complexity. It’s no longer just a historical document but a reflection of power dynamics. I initially just saw it as "old portraits," but now I understand it operates within much broader social and political systems. Curator: Precisely. Understanding that artwork can perpetuate or challenge societal power structures is paramount to creating change, especially for students. We are not passively admiring art but actively questioning it.