Portret van en man, mogelijk Gerrit Kuipers 1750 - 1792

This engraving, possibly of Gerrit Kuipers, was created by Aert Schouman in the 18th century. Note the sitter's powdered wig, a symbol of status and adherence to social norms during that era. The wig, however, carries echoes of earlier, more primal significations. Consider the elaborate hairstyles of ancient Egyptian royalty, or the ritualistic head coverings in various cultures. The impulse to adorn and transform the head speaks to a deep-seated human desire to project power and identity. It’s a mask of sorts, consciously adopted, yet subtly revealing the individual beneath. This tension between conformity and individuality is what makes portraiture so compelling. The powdered wig, initially a marker of elite status, gradually transformed into a symbol of tradition, and even oppression. The cyclical nature of symbols! What was once a radical statement of identity gradually became a relic.