Portret van Frédéric-Maurice de la Tour d'Auvergne 1866 - 1868

This is Jan Frederik Christiaan Reckleben's portrait of Frédéric-Maurice de la Tour d'Auvergne, rendered with a printmaking technique. At the base, we see a coat of arms, and above, the portrait of a man clad in armor, softened by a delicate lace collar. Armor, throughout history, has stood as a potent symbol—a protective shell, yes, but also a declaration of power and status. Think back to the ancient Greek warriors, their bronze breastplates gleaming under the Mediterranean sun, or the medieval knights, their full suits of armor transforming them into almost mythical figures. This armor signifies not just physical defense but also psychological readiness for conflict. Yet, here, the sternness of the armor is juxtaposed with the softness of lace, hinting at the complex interplay of strength and refinement, aggression and civilization. Like a serpent shedding its skin, symbols resurface throughout history, constantly evolving, reflecting our ever-changing understanding of the human condition.