Portret van Franz Konrad Romanus 1700 - 1713

Pieter Schenk’s portrait of Franz Konrad Romanus captures the man in ink during the late 17th to early 18th century. The elaborate wig is a symbol of status and power. In Roman times, hair was an indicator of strength and virility. Similarly, the elaborate wigs of the European aristocracy served as a powerful statement of authority and social standing. Consider the wig's transformation through history. What began as a functional item to conceal baldness or thinning hair evolved into an elaborate cultural artifact. Across cultures, hair has always been deeply symbolic, tied to identity, status, and even spiritual power. In this portrait, the detailed rendering of the wig and lace are not mere decorations; they communicate the subject's elevated position within society. This visual language speaks to our subconscious desires for status and recognition, tapping into a collective memory of symbols of power. Such symbols may evolve, but the underlying human drive to assert dominance through visual cues remains a constant, resonating even today.