Portret van Filips III van Croÿ, hertog van Aarschot c. 1839 - 1892

This is Edouard Taurel’s portrait of Filips III van Croÿ, the Duke of Aarschot. His crisp, elaborate ruff collar and noble coat-of-arms embody the symbols of status and lineage from his time. Such heraldic emblems can be traced back to ancient forms of personal identification, evolving into codified systems during the medieval period. These symbols aren't just historical markers. Note how the coat-of-arms here acts as a psychological anchor, reassuring us of the Duke's place in the world and speaking to a deep-seated human need for identity and belonging. Consider the ruff, its circular form not only frames the face but also evokes the cyclical nature of fashion and history itself. Like the Ouroboros, the snake eating its tail, the ruff reappears throughout history, each time slightly altered, yet always hinting at its past. Its rigid structure perhaps mirroring the confines of societal expectations, a theme that still resonates today. This portrait is more than just an image; it's a nexus of cultural memory, constantly echoing and reshaping itself across time.