Het zogenaamde zelfportret van Lucas van Leyden 1575 - 1625

This engraving, titled "The So-Called Self-Portrait of Lucas van Leyden," presents a figure adorned in the fashion of the early 16th century. The most striking feature is the broad, soft hat, a symbol of status and identity. Hats, throughout history, have served as powerful markers of identity, from the priestly mitres evoking divine authority to the humble caps of laborers. Note the confident set of the sitter’s gaze. This echoes the tradition of portraiture, where the eyes serve as windows to the soul. Consider, too, how the act of portraiture itself—especially self-portraiture—becomes a form of self-fashioning, an assertion of individuality against the tides of time. This image touches upon the human desire to leave a lasting impression, to transcend mortality through art. It taps into something primal—the urge to be remembered, to imprint oneself upon the collective consciousness.