Portret van Pieter Johan van Berckel 1786 - 1809

This is Reinier Vinkeles's rendering of Pieter Johan van Berckel, captured in ink on paper. Van Berckel is framed by a stone border, but is also surrounded by draped fabric. The use of the curtain dates back to antiquity and can be seen in ancient Roman portraiture as a symbol of status. The curtain is related to "the veil of appearances" through which we may see the true essence of a person or event. This concept appears in various forms across cultures, from the veils of goddesses like Isis to the theatrical curtains that reveal a performance. Such devices invite us to question the nature of representation. The use of the curtain as a visual metaphor has persisted through the ages, reappearing in various forms. In each iteration, the symbol accumulates new layers of meaning while retaining its connection to the primal human desire to understand what lies beyond the surface. The image serves as a potent reminder of the cyclical and ever-evolving nature of symbols.