Portret van Maximiliaan Emanuel II 1672 - 1724

Jacob Gole engraved this portrait of Maximiliaan Emanuel II using engraving. Note the plumed hat he is holding. The hat is a symbol of power and authority, as plumes have been used to denote status and nobility from ancient times. This motif resurfaces throughout history, consider the feathered helmets of ancient warriors, the elaborate headdresses of Renaissance monarchs, and the feathered hats worn by courtiers. The hat represents the cyclical return of symbols of prestige, and reminds us of the human impulse to display status through adornment. The gesture of holding the hat, rather than wearing it, also suggests a moment of pause, hinting at the weight of leadership. It speaks volumes about the psychological burden that comes with wielding power.