Romanorium Viri et Feminae Habitus, from Fashions of Different Nations (copy) by Master ID

Romanorium Viri et Feminae Habitus, from Fashions of Different Nations (copy)

1609 - 1649

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Artwork details

Medium
drawing, print, engraving
Dimensions
sheet: 8 7/16 x 5 15/16 in. (21.5 x 15.1 cm)
Location
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Copyright
Public Domain

Tags

#portrait#drawing#baroque#print#caricature#caricature#portrait drawing#history-painting#engraving

About this artwork

Master ID made this engraving, Romanorium Viri et Feminae Habitus, sometime between 1580 and 1650. The print is part of a series illustrating fashions of different nations, reflecting Europe’s growing engagement with a wider world and the curiosity surrounding cultural identities. Here, we see a Roman couple depicted in their traditional attire. The image offers a glimpse into the gendered roles and social status of the time. The woman, adorned in elaborate garments, embodies a certain ideal of femininity and wealth, while the man, with his sword, puffed sleeves, and musical instrument represents masculinity and perhaps a life of military or civic duty. The architecture in the background suggests an urban environment, with a bustling crowd of men enacting some scene. The print seems to ask: What did it mean to be Roman? What were the visual markers of identity, and how did clothing and adornment play a role in constructing these identities? Consider how the artist uses visual cues to reinforce or challenge stereotypes about gender, class, and cultural identity.

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