LAS MENINAS

Discussion Prompt/Question:

Diego Velasquez’s Las Meninas, painted in 1656, is regarded as a seminal work of the Spanish Baroque. Upon first glance, the painting is seemingly a simple portrait, however, after closer inspection, complexities emerge that affect both the form and content.

For your post, research Las Meninas and evaluate the interpretations that have been made. Although the majority of your research should focus on scholarly sources (textbook, academic websites, scholarly articles), you are free to consult non-scholarly sources as well since this painting has generated such a variety of interpretations and has been the focus of consistent speculation. In your post, summarize your findings and include both questions and interpretations that have developed based on your research. This discussion is meant to continue the dialogue that has surrounded this painting for centuries.