Portret van een vrouw met een halssieraad 1881 - 1901

This is a photograph of a woman with a necklace, by the Cordes brothers, housed in the Rijksmuseum. Notice the necklace, a singular point of interest and light on the subject. Across epochs, jewelry has served as more than mere decoration. It’s a potent symbol, a material embodiment of status, protection, and deeply held beliefs. In ancient Egypt, jewelry was buried with the dead, carrying symbolic power into the afterlife. The circular form of the pendant around the subject’s neck evokes cycles of time and continuity, a visual echo of the ouroboros—the snake eating its own tail—an ancient symbol of eternity and cyclical renewal. Such symbols tap into our collective unconscious, resonating with primal human experiences and fears. The circular form appears across cultures, from Celtic knotwork to Buddhist mandalas, each carrying its own spiritual weight. It highlights the enduring human quest for meaning, identity, and connection across time.