Las meninas 1656

"Las Meninas" (1656) by Diego Velázquez is a complex and influential masterpiece of Spanish Golden Age painting. The painting depicts the Infanta Margarita Teresa, daughter of King Philip IV, surrounded by her ladies-in-waiting, dwarfs, and other attendants. Notably, the artist himself is depicted in the scene, seemingly painting the royal couple, who are reflected in a mirror on the back wall. The composition is innovative and playful, inviting the viewer to consider the role of art and power in the Spanish court.