Portret van een man 1866 - 1869

This photograph, “Portret van een man” by Louis de Laetre, captures the sitter in attire that speaks volumes about his era. Notice the bow tie, a sartorial element that, even today, evokes formality and a connection to traditions of the past. The bow tie as we know it now emerged from the cravats worn by Croatian mercenaries in the 17th century, a symbol of military elegance adopted by the French bourgeoisie. Consider how such a once-martial symbol has softened, transforming into an emblem of bourgeois respectability. This metamorphosis embodies what I call the “survival of the antique” – how symbols reappear, laden with new significations, yet still echoing their origins. This act of memory, both conscious and unconscious, binds us to history, influencing not just our attire but our perception of identity. The bow tie, therefore, is more than mere fashion; it is a recurring motif in the grand tapestry of cultural history.