Hoofd van een kind 1646

Wenceslaus Hollar etched this head of a child, and we see more than just a portrait; we see echoes of classical ideals. Notice the curls. These ringlets can be traced back to ancient depictions of gods and heroes. Think of Alexander the Great or even Cupid; these figures were often depicted with similar cascading curls, symbolizing vitality and divine favor. Yet, here, they adorn a child, suggesting an innocence touched by the echoes of power and beauty from the past. Such motifs are not static. They morph and adapt, revealing how cultural memory operates. The idealized beauty, once reserved for gods, now appears on a child’s head, democratizing the divine. This visual language speaks to our shared subconscious, evoking a sense of nostalgia, a longing for a past that is both real and imagined. The artwork engages us on a deep, emotional level. The symbolism, like the river of time, flows continuously, forever resurfacing and adapting.