Horned Genius 

Jean Mignon created this engraving of a horned genius in France sometime around 1550. It depicts a nude, horned figure with wings, surrounded by ornamentation and heraldic motifs. Images like this circulated in print, across Europe, and they were both reflections of, and contributors to, a network of social relations. Consider the classical references here, and the visual codes of power and status, with the fruits and heraldry as symbols of wealth. The image would likely have been commissioned to circulate amongst an elite social group; perhaps as a gift, or as part of a collection. The print medium itself is significant here, because it enabled the wide distribution of images and ideas, but the fact that this object is an engraving suggests that it was intended for an audience that appreciated fine craftsmanship. By studying such images alongside other historical sources, we can learn a great deal about the social and cultural context in which they were made, and the values and beliefs of the people who commissioned and consumed them.