Portret van Hendrik Casimir II, graaf van Nassau-Dietz 1675 - 1699

Petrus Aeneae made this portrait of Hendrik Casimir II in the late 17th or early 18th century. Note the oval frame of laurel leaves, a symbol since antiquity for triumph and eternal life, here encircling the Prince. He is dressed in armor, a common motif in portraits of nobility meant to evoke strength and leadership, reminiscent of classical heroes. Yet, it is the elaborate wig that draws the eye, its cascade of curls a symbol of status and wealth. Consider how hair, throughout history, has been a potent signifier—from the carefully braided hair of ancient Egyptians to the tonsured heads of monks. The wig, however, represents a conscious artifice, a constructed identity. It is a mask, of sorts, that conceals as much as it reveals, reflecting the performative aspects of power. In this context, we witness the cyclical return of symbols, as ancient emblems of power are reinterpreted in the baroque style. This is a reminder of how human expression taps into a collective memory that defies simple linearity.