Portret van de predikant en hoogleraar Johann Daniel Arcularius 1670 - 1713

This is Pieter Schenk’s print of Johann Daniel Arcularius, a theologian, made around the turn of the 18th century. The somber portrait is framed by an oval, drawing our attention to the sitter’s rigid, pleated ruff. Consider the ruff not merely as a fashion of its time, but as a symbol, a codified signifier of status and piety. The circular form itself echoes halos of saints, visually sanctifying the wearer. A similar motif is seen in ancient Egyptian art, where pleated linen collars adorn the necks of pharaohs, signifying divine authority. Later, these forms reappear in the elaborate lace collars of Renaissance monarchs. Such recurring visual cues tap into a collective memory, resonating with viewers on a subconscious level. The ruff in Arcularius' portrait, therefore, does more than denote status, it evokes a lineage of power and reverence, revealing how symbols morph and adapt, carrying echoes of the past into the present.