Hadrian 1963

Rudy Pozzatti created this intaglio print, titled "Hadrian," in 1963. Pozzatti's image gives us a contemporary take on classical portraiture. Hadrian, the Roman emperor, embodies imperial power. But here, that power is fragmented, rendered in sharp, broken lines. Made during the height of the Cold War, this print reflects anxieties about authority and control. As our museums show us, images of leaders are never neutral; they embody political ideologies. During this period, American artists began questioning traditional representations of power, challenging the very notion of centralized authority. Works like this one demonstrate the American cultural sphere’s move towards deconstruction and abstraction. To fully understand "Hadrian", we can delve into historical archives, political writings, and studies of art institutions during the Cold War. Through this research, we can appreciate how a seemingly simple print can embody complex cultural dialogues.