Portret van de Duitse professor Christian Thomas 1670 - 1713

Pieter Schenk’s portrait of Christian Thomasius, rendered in print, presents us with an icon of intellectual authority. The elaborate wig, far from being mere fashion, symbolizes status, and academic prowess. Consider how such displays of status through attire echo across time. Think of the elaborate headdresses of ancient Egyptian pharaohs, or the carefully constructed hairstyles of Renaissance nobility. Each is a visual declaration of power. Similarly, Thomasius’s wig is not merely a covering but a carefully constructed statement of his position in society. Such symbols are not static; they evolve. The wig of the Enlightenment differs vastly from a tribal headdress, yet both serve to elevate the individual, marking them as someone of importance. This urge to signify status through adornment taps into our collective memory, resonating on a subconscious level. It is a performance, laden with the weight of history and culture, engaging our emotions and perceptions in profound ways.