In this class we continued our analysis of portraits. We began with Time’s Trump cover. The connections between the chair used in the image and the metonymy of the throne and ruler interested me. The flaws in the chair invoke issues of leadership, and Trump’s position in shadowy 3/4 view makes him seem slightly menacing. Discussion then moved to the roles of women in art and society. Lotto’s Portrait of a Woman displays a clear effort by Lucretia Vallier to present herself as a modern reflection of the values embodied by the ancient Lucretia. She appears dignified and honorable, which supports the painting’s possible purpose as a commemoration of the sitter’s wedding. A similar goal is seen in Gheeraerts the Younger’s Queen Elizabeth, which depicts the ruler as significantly younger and standing over a globe, symbolizing and exagerating the extensive reach of the nation she ruled. The power and status of the figure is made clear. Finally, works such as Titian’s Venus of Urbino conveyed a very different message, depicting more sexualized figures and emphasizing that aspect instead of power.