Portrait of Lucas Pater, Merchant and Poet in Amsterdam 1732 - 1771

Here we see Jan Maurits Quinkhard's portrait of Lucas Pater, merchant and poet in Amsterdam. Pater wears a curled wig, a clear symbol of status and intellectual engagement during the 18th century. Consider the long, flowing locks seen in portraits of Apollo, the Greek god of the arts. Throughout history, hair has carried symbolic weight. Samson's strength resided in his hair; the tonsure marked religious devotion. In Pater's time, the wig signified adherence to enlightenment ideals, a desire to emulate classical virtues and learning. Yet, this symbol has an underlying psychological tension: the wig as a constructed identity, masking the individual beneath. The cyclical nature of symbols reveals itself: Pater's wig is not merely a fashion statement, but an echo of historical aspirations, ever resurfacing, evolving in meaning, and engaging us on a deep, subconscious level.