Dubbelportret van Jean Baptiste van Eijcken en Julie Anne Marie Noël van Eijcken 1841 - 1842

This double portrait of Jean Baptiste van Eijcken and Julie Anne Marie Noël van Eijcken was made by an anonymous artist. The pendants each figure wears draw the eye. Such an emblem could be a miniature portrait or locket. Consider how similar pendants have been used across different eras, echoing ancient amulets worn for protection, their symbolism varies over time. The chain symbolizes not just adornment, but also a link to something—perhaps memory, love, or identity. Looking back at ancient Roman portraiture, we see similar personal adornments carrying messages of status and affiliation. How these objects resonate with cultural memory, acting as triggers that evoke emotions and connections. The persistence of the pendant motif, continually resurfacing in new forms, emphasizes the cyclical nature of human expression and its deep-seated need to connect with the past while navigating the present.