Portret van Leonhard Kager op 69-jarige leeftijd 1617

Lucas Kilian engraved this portrait of Leonhard Kager in 1607 using copper. Kager is framed by an oval inscribed with his name, title, and age, but it is the symbols within that capture our attention. The ruff around Kager’s neck, meticulously rendered, speaks of status and formality. This evolved from the modest high collars of the previous century. Over time it transformed into a symbol of aristocratic identity, almost a theatrical mask, distancing the wearer yet paradoxically drawing attention. We see echoes of this distancing in the elaborate collars of monarchs across Europe. The weight of such symbols carries a profound psychological impact. The ruff both imprisons and elevates, reflecting a societal tension between freedom and constraint. This tension continues to resurface, reminding us that symbols, like memories, evolve and gain new meanings.