Portret van P. van der Berg before 1878

This photograph of P. van der Berg, created by an anonymous artist, sits beside a faint image, a classical female figure holding aloft a mirror, possibly representing truth, enlightenment, or even self-awareness. The mirror, an ancient symbol, appears across cultures. Think of Venus gazing into a mirror, a symbol of vanity and beauty, or its use in alchemy, representing reflection. Its presence here evokes a deeper consideration of van der Berg’s identity beyond this simple portrait. Is this anonymous artist hinting at the subject's self-perception, his pursuit of truth, or perhaps a reflection of the values of his time? This iconography invites us to contemplate the cyclical nature of symbols and their uncanny ability to resurface in different guises, echoing through the corridors of time. A mirror is never just a mirror, is it?