Portret van Andreas von Ulcken 1679

Here is a portrait of Andreas von Ulcken, an engraving made by Herman Hendrik Quiter. Note the elaborate wig; a cascade of curls that frame the face. The wig, beyond mere fashion, is a potent symbol of status and authority during the 17th and 18th centuries. It echoes the lion's mane, an ancient emblem of power and virility, and is a motif seen in royal portraiture throughout the ages. Consider the portraits of Louis XIV, where the wig is not just an accessory but an extension of his absolute authority. This visual language taps into our collective memory, where symbols of strength and leadership resonate deeply. The powdered wig, transforming man into symbolic beast, triggers something primal within us, a recognition of power that transcends time. Although its significance has changed over time, from practical to merely ceremonial, the wig as a symbol has reappeared repeatedly. Its meaning is recontextualized, yet it still resonates and evokes images of power.