Self-portrait 1554

Painted in 1554, this self-portrait by Sofonisba Anguissola presents a young woman holding a book against a solid green background. The composition is simple but the texture, particularly in the face and the pages of the book, draw our attention. Consider the way the gaze meets ours directly, framed by a balanced, almost symmetrical face. Anguissola is not merely representing herself; she is also presenting herself as learned. The book becomes a signifier of her intellectual capabilities and social standing. The act of painting itself was a form of asserting her position in a male-dominated field, a claim of agency. The choice of a plain background removes any distraction, focusing on Anguissola's face and her symbolic embrace of knowledge. This directness challenges the traditional roles assigned to women in art. Her artistic identity is asserted as a form of self-definition and empowerment.