Portret van John Lee 1788

Charles Howard Hodges created this portrait of John Lee in print around 1784. The powdered wig, a prominent feature, immediately places us in the 18th century, a symbol of status and authority. Consider how such elaborate wigs connect to earlier symbols of power, like the headdresses of ancient rulers. Think of the Pharaohs, their crowns signifying divine authority, or the elaborate hairstyles of Renaissance nobility, each curl and braid a statement of control. The wig, then, becomes a secular echo of these ancient claims to power, adapted for a new era. The wig, now, is a visual echo that continues to resurface, a reminder that symbols evolve, yet their underlying themes of power and identity persist, engaging our collective memory.