Portret van een onbekend meisje 1874 - 1883

This is a portrait of an unknown girl by the studio of Vlaanderen & van der Aa, its modest dimensions reflecting the intimacy and personal nature of such keepsakes. Notice the ribbon around her neck, a seemingly simple adornment. It reminds me of the many guises of the torque, an ancient symbol of status and power, dating back to Celtic and Germanic cultures. Originally made of metal and worn by warriors and chieftains, it symbolized strength, nobility, and freedom. Over centuries, this motif was feminized, softened, and here, it graces the neck of a young girl. This transformation tells us something about the cyclical journey of symbols. What was once a declaration of masculine prowess becomes an emblem of youthful grace. The subconscious power of adornment is powerful, with this choker evoking feelings of protection, memory, and the ever-changing dance between past and present.