Portret van Emmanuel Théodose de la Tour d'Auvergne, kardinaal van Bouillon 1647 - 1678

Nicolas de Larmessin’s engraving captures Emmanuel Théodose de la Tour d'Auvergne, Cardinal of Bouillon. A ribbon frames him, a symbol of honor and connection, yet its static loops hint at the constraints of his noble and ecclesiastical status. Consider the recurring motif of the ribbon throughout history, adorning Roman emperors, medieval saints, and Renaissance nobles. In each instance, the ribbon signifies power, piety, or prestige. Yet, like Ariadne's thread, it also suggests a path, a story, a destiny preordained. The Cardinal’s ribbon evokes both celebration and confinement. This duality plays out across epochs, echoing in ceremonial garb from ancient priest-kings to modern-day dignitaries. Each loop and knot carries a silent weight of cultural memory. The portrait evokes a deep-seated sense of fate, reminding us of the cyclical nature of symbols, forever resurfacing and reshaping our collective psyche.