Portret van Petrus Nieuwland op 37-jarige leeftijd 1759

This is Jacob Houbraken’s portrait of Petrus Nieuwland, made around 1764. Nieuwland gestures with an open hand. This seemingly simple act echoes through centuries. Think back to ancient Rome, to the oratorical gestures of Cicero, captured in marble, or consider the raised hands in Byzantine mosaics, signifying divine pronouncements. Nieuwland’s gesture links him to this lineage, communicating not just information, but a sense of authority and truth. Consider how, over time, such gestures have evolved, from the sacred to the secular, from religious contexts to political arenas. The open hand, historically a symbol of honesty and sincerity, can also become a tool of persuasion, a subtle manipulation of the viewer’s trust. The collective memory of such gestures is embedded in our subconscious, and engages us on a deep, often unconscious level. The meaning of this symbol changes over time, adapting to new cultural landscapes, resurfacing in different forms.