Reproductie van een gravure van een portret van Marten Pepijn door Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert before 1877

This engraving by Joseph Maes reproduces a portrait of Marten Pepijn, originally made by Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert. It is dominated by the sitter's austere presence and the symbolic weight of his attire. Notice the striking ruff collar; in the 17th century, these were symbols of status and decorum, yet they also confined the wearer, reflecting the era’s strict social constraints. This motif appears across Europe in portraits of the elite. Think of Spanish court paintings where such collars convey power, and how, over time, the ruff diminished, yet the concept of clothing as a marker of status persisted. The somber gaze connects us to Pepijn's inner life, creating a tension between public image and private emotion. This interplay taps into our collective memory, echoing in contemporary portraits where subjects negotiate similar tensions between presentation and authenticity. The image resonates not just as a historical record, but as a mirror reflecting our ongoing negotiation with identity.