Portret van een onbekende vrouw 1880 - 1890

This cabinet card portrays an unknown woman, made by A. Visser Jzn. The portrait contains a curious detail: the ornamental pin hanging from the woman’s chest. The pin, while a simple adornment, echoes motifs from the past. I’m reminded of similar ornaments worn in medieval portraits, talismans meant to ward off the evil eye, or pendants with secret devotional significance. The string of pearls or beads that often accompanied such emblems are echoed in the delicate chain from which the pin hangs. Such ornaments act as a bridge, evoking memories and emotions linked to times gone by. They resurface in our collective consciousness, proving symbols transcend their original context and engage with subconscious memories.