Portret van Johann Moritz Hoffmann 1711 - 1713

This is Johann Kenckel’s portrait of Johann Moritz Hoffmann, rendered in print. Dominating our view is the elaborate wig, a symbol of status and power. In Hoffmann's time, such wigs signified intellectual prowess and societal standing, much like the laurel wreaths of antiquity denoted victory and honor. Yet, this ostentatious display is not without precedent. Consider the elaborate hairstyles of ancient Egypt, where wigs signified not only status but also divine connection. Similarly, the Baroque wig, though secular, carries echoes of that primal desire to elevate oneself through symbolic adornment. The weight of the wig, both literal and metaphorical, speaks to the burden of representation, a tension felt across centuries. This image evokes a subconscious recognition of the human desire for recognition and legacy, connecting us to epochs long past. Thus, we witness the cyclical return of symbols, transformed yet fundamentally unchanged, resonating with our collective memory.