Zittende man, ten voeten uit, omziend naar links 1706 - 1750

Cornelis Troost rendered this drawing of a seated man in full, facing left, with chalk. The man's wig is not merely adornment but a potent symbol of status, lineage, and the perpetuation of power—a ritualistic headdress reminiscent of ancient priestly vestments. The wig echoes through time. Consider the elaborate hairstyles of the Egyptian court, or the powdered wigs in 18th-century Europe: these are all attempts to display authority. The gesture of looking back connects to the psychological realm of memory and introspection. This posture is a motif that conveys contemplation, connecting to a universal yearning to understand our place within the continuum of existence. Such symbols endure, echoing and transforming, as the collective psyche seeks to express its deepest anxieties and aspirations.