Portretten van Hendrik Soukens, Frans van Eynden en Roukens 1757 - 1819

Roeland van Eynden created this portrait using pen in gray ink and watercolor. Here, three men are framed, one holding a painter’s palette, signifying their connection to the arts. Note the elaborate wigs. In the 18th century, wigs were potent symbols of status and power, derived from French courtly fashion. Yet, their adoption and adaptation by the rising bourgeoisie also tell of changing social and psychological landscapes. I think of Louis XIV, whose iconic mane became a codified symbol of authority. Observe how the meticulous rendering of the wigs here conveys not just status, but also an aspiration to participate in a grander narrative of cultural and social identity. Through the ages, the wig has resurfaced, evolving in meaning yet still echoing past notions of authority. This image captures a fleeting moment in the ever-changing theater of social identity.