Turkish sultans, sultanas and other historical figures
1622
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1622
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This black-and-white print shows a man in a tall, pointed hat with a fur collar. His face is serious, with a mustache and short hair. The background is plain, but the edges of the frame curve outward with fancy swirls and Latin words. The title above his head reads *"Sultan Hotomannus, Turcarum Imperator"*—meaning "Sultan of the Ottomans." The print looks like it was made around 1622, when artists often used sharp contrasts between light and dark. Look up chiaroscuro to see how this technique makes faces pop in old prints.
