Reproductie van drie prenten; portret van Jacoba van Baden door Crispijn van de Passe I en twee portretten door A. de Bruyn before 1881

This is an anonymous reproduction of three prints from the 16th or 17th century. Notice how each figure is framed within a circle or oval, a symbolic form reminiscent of halos, eternal cycles, and self-contained worlds. Consider the ruff collar in the first portrait. This fashion, so emblematic of the era, is also a signifier of status, constraint, and perhaps, a kind of protective barrier. This circular form echoes the halos we see in religious art, yet here it is secular. The motif has evolved to represent earthly power rather than divine grace. Even the ovals framing the lower portraits, in their gentle curves, evoke a sense of enclosure, reminiscent of the mandorla surrounding Christ in medieval art. Though the religious context has changed, the form retains its psychological power, engaging our emotions on a deep, subconscious level. The cycle continues. Ancient symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.