Portret van Michel Philippe Bouvart 1776

This is a portrait of Michel Philippe Bouvart made by Benoît Louis Henriquez. The oval frame recalls ancient Roman portraiture, where it symbolized status and intellect. The wig is particularly interesting: for centuries, hair has been a symbol of power and virility. Think of Samson, whose strength resided in his hair. During Bouvart’s time, wigs became a marker of social status, a trend started by Louis XIII to mask his baldness. The bigger and more elaborate the wig, the higher one’s rank. In this portrait, it transforms Bouvart, a man of science, into an emblem of authority and social standing. The image resonates with a collective yearning for status, a desire that transcends time. It speaks to our subconscious understanding of how we want to be perceived. The symbolic language, passed down through generations, creates a powerful connection between the sitter and the viewer. The wig, in this context, is not just a fashion statement but a potent signifier of cultural memory.