Portret van Cornelis Tauber 1872

Willem Bastiaan van Wouw rendered this image of Cornelis Tauber in the 19th century using lithography, a medium that democratized image production, allowing for wider dissemination of portraits. Notice the subject’s posture, his hands clasped gently. The gesture speaks to a tradition dating back to antiquity, representing contemplation, self-control, and intellectual poise. Think of Roman philosophers depicted with similar hand gestures, embodying wisdom. Yet, here, the gesture takes on a bourgeois tone, reflecting the values of the rising middle class. The bow tie, a symbol of modernity, contrasts with the timeless gesture. It echoes the shifting tides of human expression, where ancient symbols adapt to new social landscapes. This intersection is where the image’s power resides, engaging our collective memory. The symbols within this artwork are not fixed; they are in constant dialogue with history, echoing and evolving in our collective consciousness.