The Game of Gaze: Self-Representation and Social Discipline in the Portraits of Sofonisba Anguissola

This study examines the work of Sofonisba Anguissola, an eminent female artist of the Renaissance period, focusing on the central theme of the "game of gazes" within her portraiture.Under the male-dominated visual tradition and social discipline, how did Anguissola skilfully balance self-expression with societal expectations through her self-portraits and portraits commissioned by female patrons? This study explores how she constructed a female image that was both subjectively assertive and conforming to norms.Employing gaze theory as the primary analytical framework, combined with close reading of images and socio-historical analysis, this study contends that Anguissola's creative strategy represents not simple compliance or resistance, but a complex form of "negotiation." This not only enriches our understanding of Renaissance female artists' creative approaches but also offers fresh perspectives on the relationship between visual power structures and female agency.