Portret van Pieter Hendrik Suringar 1851

This is a print of Pieter Hendrik Suringar made by Leonard de Koningh, now housed in the Rijksmuseum. The most prominent visual symbol here is, of course, the sitter’s attire. His dark coat, waistcoat, and bow tie are markers of the burgeoning bourgeoisie of his time. Such garments were a departure from the elaborate, colorful costumes of the aristocracy, signaling a shift toward practicality and a sober dignity. Yet, this aesthetic echoes earlier eras. Recall the somber black robes of Renaissance scholars, a visual signifier of knowledge and authority. This motif resurfaces across history, each time embodying a new layer of meaning. It becomes a collective memory, subconsciously associating the wearer with intellectual gravitas and civic responsibility, engaging us on a profound, psychological level. Note the non-linear progression of this symbol. What began as a mark of scholarly dedication evolved into a sign of bourgeois respectability, a testament to the cyclical nature of visual motifs and their enduring power.