Portret van de (vermoedelijk) Delftse student W.H. Havelaar in korte jas en muts 1873 - 1878

Emma Kirchner captured this carte-de-visite of a presumed student named W.H. Havelaar in a full-length studio shot. The sitter's garb is a costume of some sort, adorned with symbols of status and nobility, such as the ornate cap and sash. Consider the sword at his side. Across centuries and cultures, the sword is an emblem of power, justice, and sacrifice. Think of the Archangel Michael, brandishing his sword against evil, or the ancient Roman gladiators whose swords decided life and death in the arena. In each case, the sword transcends its literal function, becoming a potent symbol loaded with cultural memory. This image reflects the cyclical nature of symbols. What psychological impulse drives us to adorn ourselves with symbols of a heroic past? How does it shift when it is removed from its original context and made into a performance? The sword and cap, lifted from history, invite us to contemplate our connection to the past.