Charles Hodge 

Rembrandt Peale painted this portrait of Charles Hodge, though the exact date remains elusive, the imagery speaks volumes. The high collar, a band of white encircling the neck, at first glance denotes the sombre and professional attire of the 19th century cleric. Yet, the symbolism of the covered neck reaches back further. From the Renaissance, where similar high collars appeared in the portraits of the Dutch elite. The high collar carries the emotional weight of restraint and controlled expression, hinting at the subject's inner world and the societal constraints that shape him. Consider, too, how this motif resurfaces in later eras, each time subtly altered, yet retaining echoes of its original intent. It is a visual echo reverberating through time, its meaning shaped and reshaped by successive generations.