Portret van de Amsterdamse burgermeester Hendrik Danielsz. Hooft c. 1792 - 1808

This is Lambertus Antonius Claessens' portrait of the Amsterdam mayor Hendrik Danielsz. Hooft. Notice the mayor's wig, a symbol of power, status, and belonging to the elite. Such symbols are not merely superficial; they resonate through time. The wig is a descendant of the elaborate hairstyles of Renaissance nobility, which in turn, echo the ritualistic adornments of ancient priests and rulers. Consider, for example, the headdresses of pharaohs, designed to convey divine authority. The wig, though secular, retains this aura of power. Its adoption speaks to a collective desire for order and hierarchy. The psychological weight of these symbols is immense. They tap into our primal need for structure and recognition. The portrait serves not only as a record of an individual but as a testament to the enduring power of symbols, which continue their non-linear journey through the annals of time.