Las Meninas Socks

At first glance 'Las Meninas' is a portrait of the infanta. But, if he was depicting himself painting the infanta then she is facing the wrong direction, looking at us, as are most figures. So is Velázquez. This leads us to the elephant in the room. While it was not uncommon for artists to include themselves in their work, Velásquez shamelessly paints himself as a prominent figure. Many speculate that this was Velázquez's way of asserting his importance within the court. The red cross on his chest is the symbol of the Order of Santiago, a prestigious religious and military order. Exceedingly difficult to enter, he was admitted to the order in 1659 upon a decree of the king. no one is sure if this honour was awarded prior to the painting or if it had been a crafty way to influence the King's decision.

Although there are certainly many other characters and details for us to over-analyze, we'll end by focusing on the element that seems to restore some order in the apparent chaos painted by Velázquez.

While it may not immediately apparent whom most of the people depicted are looking at, there's a hint to keen observers. Reflected in the mirror at the back we see the figures of King Philip IV and his queen, Mariana of Austria, the only ones capable of commanding attention from all figures. This makes them the fourth wall, the beholders, but also makes us the royals. And the painters. Or maybe it's just Velásquez painting the infanta while looking at a giant mirror. Or maybe it's all just happening in the multiverse.

Diego Velázquez

Las Meninas, 1656

Oil on canvas, 318 x 276

Museo del Prado, Madrid