Portret van Petrus Hermanus Bon 1887 - 1896

Here we see a portrait of Petrus Hermanus Bon, immortalized in a photograph by Godfried de Jong. The subject's beard, neatly trimmed and full, is a potent symbol here, echoing across centuries. Consider the beards of ancient philosophers and prophets, signs of wisdom and gravitas. Yet, in the 19th century, the beard takes on a new meaning, a mark of bourgeois respectability and burgeoning industrial power. Think of the portraits of industrialists—the beard becomes a mask, concealing and revealing ambition. This symbol echoes even today, in our contemporary quest for authenticity, as we adorn ourselves with carefully cultivated images. Note how the weight of tradition is never truly shed. The modern beard, the ancient beard—both are interwoven, a testament to the enduring power of the image.