Drie portretten van mensen die lijden aan grootheidswaanzin before 1876

These photographs by J. Valette depict three individuals suffering from delusions of grandeur. Each portrait reveals how deeply ingrained the aspiration for recognition is in our psyche. The upward gaze of the first, the religious vestments and crucifix of the second, and the military medals adorning the third are all visual expressions of a desire to transcend ordinary existence, to touch the divine. Consider the crown, an age-old symbol of power and legitimacy. Throughout history, the crown appears in different forms and materials, yet its essence remains: an object that signifies the wearer's elevated status. This symbol taps into a collective fantasy of power and authority, a fantasy echoed in the self-perception of those suffering from megalomania. These portraits tap into our collective memory, into the archetypes of power and divinity, reminding us of our inherent drive for significance. It is a reminder of how the human psyche grapples with the boundaries between reality and delusion.