Portret van Gerardus Johannis Mulder 1848

Pieter Wilhelmus van de Weijer created this print of Gerardus Johannis Mulder. Note the formal attire: The high collar, dark coat, and bow tie, all symbols of 19th-century bourgeois respectability. But let’s move beyond the surface. Consider the medal pinned to Mulder’s chest. Medals, throughout history, have served as potent symbols of recognition, status, and belonging. Think of the Roman emperors depicted with laurel wreaths, or medieval knights adorned with heraldic emblems. These are all visual cues to a person's status, and therefore, their value. These symbols recur across epochs, adapting yet retaining their core purpose: to visually communicate power. Such symbols affect us on a subconscious level, tapping into deeply ingrained associations of status, achievement, and authority. This is a testament to the enduring power of symbols to evoke intense feelings, and engage viewers on a profoundly intuitive level.