Portret van een Belgische advocaat, mogelijk Paul Spitaëls 1897

This finely rendered portrait, possibly of the Belgian lawyer Paul Spitaëls, was etched by Auguste Danse. The man's gaze is direct, poised, and his meticulously groomed moustache is charged with meaning. Moustaches, throughout history, have signified virility and status. Think of the elaborate beards of Assyrian kings, symbols of their power and divine right. These carefully cultivated symbols of masculinity appear throughout the ages and across cultures, evolving in style but rooted in the primal need to assert dominance and project an image of control. The style and shape of the moustache become cultural markers and can reflect societal values and individual aspirations. The mustache—once a symbol of unquestioned authority—morphs through history. It is a potent reminder of how cultural symbols are not static but continually re-evaluated, imbued with fresh meaning by each successive generation.