Kassemesteren 1595

This engraving, of unknown authorship, presents a fashionably dressed man standing before what appears to be a military encampment. His large, ornamental ruff encircles his head like a halo. The ruff, a symbol of status and refinement, once signified the wearer's elevated position in society. We find echoes of this circular form in other contexts – consider the elaborate collars of Renaissance nobility, or even the sun disks associated with deities in ancient Egypt. These forms, seemingly disparate, converge on a common plane, resonating with notions of divinity, power, and the self. The ruff’s exaggerated size suggests a kind of protective barrier, perhaps reflecting the anxieties of a turbulent era. Over time, this symbol of status and protection has been passed down through history, shifting in meaning. It reappears now as a relic of the past, imbued with the collective memories and subconscious associations of those who once wore it.