Portret van Gaston Jean-Baptiste, hertog van Orléans 1628 - 1670

This is Pieter de Jode the Younger's portrait of Gaston Jean-Baptiste, Duke of Orléans, rendered in print. De Jode was working in a historical moment defined by rigid social hierarchies and the consolidation of power in the hands of the monarchy. Consider the implications of portraying Gaston, brother of King Louis XIII, in this manner. The print encapsulates the intersection of politics and personal identity in the 17th century. Gaston’s elaborate attire reflects his status but also the performance of power expected of him. The softness of his gaze and the details of his lace collar hint at the constructed nature of masculinity. It invites us to consider the tension between public duty and personal expression. The portrait is a testament to the era's representational strategies and reminds us that identity is not just personal, but also a product of societal expectations.