Portret van een man en een vrouw, mogelijk meneer en mevrouw Büeger 1883 - 1892

This is Gottfried Wolfsgruber's portrait of a man and a woman, possibly Mr. and Mrs. Büeger. Note the man's hand. The prominent display of a wedding ring, historically a symbol of commitment, speaks volumes. Across time and cultures, the ring has signified endlessness and eternal love, echoing the ancient symbol of the ouroboros, the snake eating its own tail. From ancient Egyptian tombs to Renaissance paintings, the circle embodies unity and completeness. The ring, though simple, taps into our collective psyche, reminding us of the human desire for lasting connection and the fear of separation. It resurfaces through time, evolving from a mere marker of marital status to a potent emblem of social stability and personal identity, a constant echo of vows made and futures intertwined.