Portret van Lucas Vorsterman 1852 - 1898

Leopold Löwenstam created this portrait of Lucas Vorsterman in 1879 using etching techniques. Here, Vorsterman is depicted with a distinctive ruff collar, a symbol of status and formality during the 17th century. This fashion statement, initially a practical necessity to protect clothing from the oils in wigs, quickly became a marker of the aristocracy and scholarly elite. Think of the elaborate collars in portraits of Queen Elizabeth I. These aren't merely garments. They speak volumes about the wearer's position and self-perception. Consider how similar collars appear in earlier portraits by artists like Holbein, framing the face and drawing the eye to the subject's intellect and authority. This act of framing has evolved. The ruff becomes the clean lines of a business suit, still meant to convey respectability and power. The choice of Löwenstam to revisit this historical style is a deliberate invocation of past grandeur, subtly blending historical reverence with contemporary artistic expression. The enduring appeal of such symbols lies in their power to tap into our collective memory.