Portret van Willem III, prins van Oranje c. 1660 - 1673

This portrait of Willem III, Prince of Orange, was created by Adriaen Millaert. Framed by a wreath of laurel, the young prince is presented as a figure of burgeoning power and authority. The laurel, an emblem of triumph and eternal glory since ancient Greece, speaks to the aspirations surrounding Willem's role in Dutch society. Even the armor that he wears beneath the lace alludes to martial prowess, but it is the wreath that captures a deeper psychoanalytic dimension. The cyclical nature of the wreath, ever returning upon itself, suggests an eternal return – a subconscious yearning for the past. Consider the motif's appearances throughout history, adorning Roman emperors and Renaissance heroes alike. Each iteration subtly shifts, shaped by the collective memory and the unique cultural context of its time. This continuous thread of symbolic representation suggests an emotional, almost primal connection to notions of victory, remembrance, and cyclical time.