Portret van Étienne Dolet 1549 - 1584

This is an anonymous portrait of Étienne Dolet. Note the knotwork design subtly framing the portrait. These intricate interlacings, often found in Celtic and Germanic art, speak to a deeper connection between knowledge, fate, and the eternal cycles of life. The image of the knot is ancient; we see it in Viking rune stones and illuminated manuscripts. The never-ending loops suggest an unbroken chain, linking past, present, and future. In psychological terms, it embodies our endless search for meaning and understanding. Consider, too, the image of the labyrinth and the knot that represents it. It speaks of intellectual complexity, of a journey through convoluted paths toward truth. Even now, in our digital age, these symbols persist—echoes of a past that continues to resonate within us. These visual motifs tap into subconscious layers of our being, reminding us that knowledge and the quest for enlightenment is a continuous process that evolves.