Portret van de arts Ambroise Paré 1823

Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps created this print of Ambroise Paré, a portrait capturing the essence of the famed Renaissance surgeon. Notice the elaborate ruff collar, a symbol of status and formality during Paré's time. This circular shape around the neck echoes motifs we see in other eras. Consider the halo in Byzantine icons, also a circle framing the head, signifying importance. Over time, the ruff evolved from practical neck protection to a decorative fashion statement, its rigid form a stark contrast to the soft flesh it surrounds. Such adornments, repeated across history, reveal our deep-seated need to signify status and belonging. It is a recurring theme, a cyclical progression in the theater of human expression, reappearing and evolving across cultures and generations.