Portret van Thomas Bartholinus 1656

Jonas Suyderhoef created this portrait of Thomas Bartholinus in 1656 using engraving techniques. Notice Bartholinus's collar, a ruffled adornment at his neck, not unlike a serpent coiling protectively, and his gaze, direct and unwavering, embodying the spirit of intellectual inquiry. The ruffled collar, a symbol of status, reminds me of similar adornments seen across various eras – from the pleated linen of ancient Egyptian royalty to the elaborate lace collars of the Elizabethan era. Each iteration speaks to a desire for distinction, a visual marker of one's place in society. We also observe the subject’s intense gaze, the very act of looking can be traced back to ancient Roman portraiture, where a direct gaze symbolized power and authority. These symbols, passed down through history, evoke a sense of continuity, reflecting our collective, subconscious desires for recognition. The symbols persist, reminding us that the past is never truly gone.