Portret van Cornelis Pijnacker 1858 - 1860

Jan Frederik Christiaan Reckleben created this portrait of Cornelis Pijnacker using engraving. Notice the striking ruff collar, a symbol of status during the 16th and 17th centuries. This sartorial motif echoes through art history. Consider the elaborate collars in portraits of Queen Elizabeth I, which, like Pijnacker's ruff, served as a proclamation of power and refinement. The ruff, initially modest, grew to extravagant proportions, a visual representation of social climbing and the desire for distinction. One can see its faint echo even today in the exaggerated collars of modern fashion. The human desire to signal status through dress is deeply embedded in our collective consciousness. As we see such symbols evolve and resurface, we find continuity in the human narrative of ambition and identity.