... at the center of the painting is the 5-year-old princess, who at this moment is unwilling to pose; she has undoubtedly spent a great deal of her life posing. Her two ladies in waiting, in addition to two court dwarves, are trying to convince her to cooperate. In the mirror on the back wall are reflected the girl's parents, the king and queen. The painter is Velazquez himself. These questions may help you to understand what Velazquez is trying to accomplish in the painting: * In what sense is this painting a "portrait"? * Who is the subject of the "portrait"? * What is your position as a viewer? * Who is Velazquez looking at and why? The Assignment In your response use one of the texts (Luther, Milton, Pascal, or Descartes) to help make sense of Velazquez's painting. Your response should clearly explain the idea(s) from the written text and then explain ...

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