Portret van Dirk Maes 1741 - 1845

This drawing, now at the Rijksmuseum, captures Dirk Maes with delicate strokes in graphite. Note the flowing locks of hair. This convention, rooted in classical antiquity, signified virility, health, and status. Think of the idealized portraits of Roman emperors or Renaissance princes, their manes carefully arranged to convey power and authority. This symbol of long hair, once a sign of freedom and virility, is later mirrored in the long hair of the Romantics, as a symbol of non-conformity. The human desire to project an idealized self is a constant throughout history. What begins as a celebration of physical strength and societal status in antiquity can be seen transformed, centuries later, into a symbol of intellectual freedom. It's a cyclical progression—a testament to how visual symbols are continually reinterpreted, echoing through time, engaging our subconscious on a deep, emotional level.