Borstbeeld van Rembertus Dodonaeus c. 1830 - 1842

Louis Tuerlinckx created this portrait of Rembert Dodoens using graphite and possibly some other drawing mediums. Tuerlinckx lived in a time when the concept of "great men" dominated historical narratives. Artists memorialized figures like Dodoens, a physician and botanist, reinforcing the idea that history was shaped by exceptional individuals, usually men. The choice to depict Dodoens through a bust is a very classical and heroic representation. But what stories are left untold when we focus solely on these figures? What about the countless women, people of color, and working-class individuals whose contributions were often ignored or erased? By questioning these traditional representations, we can begin to develop more inclusive narratives that better reflect the complexities of our shared history.