Het portret van Puck 1876 - 1892

This cartoon, 'The Portrait of Puck', humorously shows us the making of a dog portrait. Notice the beret worn by the painter, a visual motif loaded with historical and cultural significance. The beret, often associated with artists and intellectuals since the 19th century, signifies creativity and avant-garde thinking. Yet, its origins trace back much further. We see its early forms in the medieval bonnets of the common folk, later adopted by the Renaissance artists as a mark of their craft. The beret has evolved over time. Initially, it was a practical head covering, but it became a symbol of the wearer’s identity and cultural allegiance. It is fascinating how such a simple piece of clothing could be charged with so much meaning, reflecting how collective memory and cultural symbols continuously shift in meaning across time.