Gentilhumo moderne Naplitana 1598

Christoph Krieger created this image, "Gentilhumo moderne Naplitana," which translates to "Modern Neapolitan Gentleman," using a woodcut technique. Woodcuts like this one were often used in printed books to illustrate different social types. Here, we see a man from Naples, Italy, dressed in what would have been considered fashionable attire at the time. The attire is highly decorative, suggesting a person of status, wealth and privilege. It’s impossible to ignore how clothing operates as a signifier of social class and regional identity. The image isn't just a portrait; it's a statement about the cultural and economic dynamics of 16th-century Neapolitan society. The book it was printed in would have been circulated to affluent citizens who would use it to distinguish themselves from those who were deemed not to be fashionable enough, or of a high enough social standing. Ultimately, this woodcut is an artifact of a bygone era, a visual record of the ways in which identity, status, and regional pride were constructed and communicated in early modern Europe.