Diogenes 1500 - 1565

"Diogenes" is an etching by Italian Renaissance artist Giovanni Jacopo Caraglio, dating from the 16th century. It depicts the Greek Cynic philosopher Diogenes, known for his austere lifestyle and rejection of societal norms, seated amidst a collection of books and a geometric diagram. Caraglio's detailed depiction of Diogenes's thoughtful expression and the surrounding objects creates a striking representation of the philosopher's contemplative nature, often associated with intellectual pursuits and the pursuit of truth. This artwork currently resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.