Portret van Ferdinand van Beieren 1613 - 1656

Cornelis Danckerts the Elder created this portrait of Ferdinand of Bavaria as an engraving. The symbols of power are plain: the sitter's severe gaze, the heavy, formal garments, and the stark white collar. The collar is particularly interesting. Across time, we see similar neckwear denote status and authority. Consider the elaborate ruffs of the Elizabethan era, or even the stiff collars worn by ancient Egyptian royalty. Each iteration, while varying in style, serves the same purpose: to elevate the wearer, setting them apart. The impulse to visually assert dominance runs deep in the human psyche. This portrait of Ferdinand, like countless others, taps into our collective understanding of power. We respond to it on a primal level, recognizing the symbols even if their specific meanings have shifted over time.