Portrait of Haesje Jacobsdr van Cleyburg c. 1634

Rembrandt van Rijn painted this portrait of Haesje Jacobsdr van Cleyburg using oil on panel. Note the sitter's elaborate millstone collar, a symbol of status and piety in the Dutch Golden Age. This circular ruff echoes across centuries, appearing in royal portraits and theatrical costumes. Think of the rigid formality of Elizabethan collars, projecting power and restraint. Yet, here in Haesje’s portrait, it softens, conveying a sense of domestic virtue rather than aristocratic dominance. The color white also represents purity and simplicity, but we find traces of this symbol across history as it reappears in bridal gowns or religious garments. The subconscious allure of these symbols is undeniable, their emotional weight carried through generations. As the language of dress evolves, the essence of human expression persists.