Buste van een bebaarde God

Hubert Quellinus made this bust of a bearded god using etching. Quellinus, born in Antwerp, worked in a baroque style that reflects a period of immense social, political, and religious upheaval, notably the Thirty Years' War and the Counter-Reformation. The bust is striking, in part due to the period’s vision of masculinity, where the length and fullness of the beard are indicators of virility and wisdom. Religious and mythical figures were often depicted with such beards to assert their authority and divine status. During this era, the visual arts were crucial in reinforcing social hierarchies and moral standards, often drawing from classical antiquity to legitimize contemporary power structures. Consider how Quellinus' work invites us to reflect on the enduring influence of historical ideals on present-day concepts of identity.