Portret van burgemeester Pieter Adriaensz. van der Werff 1762 - 1804

This engraving portrays Pieter Adriaensz. van der Werff, a mayor of Leiden, and is made by Barent de Bakker. Van der Werff is adorned with a ruff collar and a pendant, symbols of status and authority during the Dutch Golden Age. Consider the oval frame. As a motif, this framing device evokes not only Renaissance portraiture, but also classical cameos, reinforcing the sitter’s importance. The oval, a shape without beginning or end, implies continuity and timelessness. Such framing recalls ancient Roman portrait busts, connecting van der Werff to a lineage of leadership, an unbroken chain of historical figures. The gaze directed away from the viewer is a conscious decision, a silent dialogue that acknowledges the viewer while maintaining a certain distance. This, then, is not merely a portrait, but a symbolic representation of power, echoing through the ages and influencing the collective psyche. As an image, it resonates deeply with the primal desire for order and authority. The image becomes a complex interplay of historical echoes and psychological projections, an evolving motif that continues to shape our understanding of leadership.